On Maternity leave and have not had a pay rise / promotion. Is this wrong?

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

I have been on Maternity leave since October 2009.
Previously I was working full time in a sales office. I was very successful, popular with clients and brought in lots of money to the department. My boss regularly told me how good I am and that he didn't know what they were going to do when I go on maternity leave.

I received a letter this morning saying that my 2010 salary has not increased and that I have not had a promotion.

I was not expecting a promotion but I was expecting some recognition of my hard work this year.

Even though I am not currently at work should I be considered for a pay rise?

I plan to go back when my DD is 6 months. Possibly on a part time basis. My boss knows this and is happy with it. My part time salary will be based on what my full time salary was.

As I work in sales I may be included in the end of year bonus scheme but I will not find out about that until April. Any thoughts?

If you had been at work, would you have received a pay rise?

I should think so. The only thing I can think of is that they do not give the sales staff as many pay rises because they can get a bonus. But that doesn't mean I will get a bonus and it won't add to my basic pay.

you should have had one if everyone else has had one. does everyone get the same or is it based on performance? if all the same then you should get the same. if based on performance you need a proper sit down meeting (as presumably you would have if you were there) with your boss to decide on how much. you shouldn't be penalised for not being there to 'perform' but neither should you be particularly rewarded if you haven't been there to contribute, IYSWIM?

You shouldn't miss out on pay rises because you are on maternity leave. The key is whether the fact you are on maternity leave is the reason you have not had a pay rise. At the moment lots of companies aren't giving pay rises regardless of performance because of needing to save costs. If everyone has had the same letter, that's fine. If everyone else has had a rise except you, then that's a problem.

What Flowery said!

I've seen lots of these questions recently and I think that the first step is always to find out what happened to people in similar roles who are at work. Not having a pay rise is, IME, the standard approach this year. Other than public sector/unionised pre-agreed deals, I hardly know any companies who have given pay rises other than on promotion this year.

My boss just called as everyone else has had their letter and he has spoken to them all. Its like flowery says. There are very few rises this year due to the financial situation. Sounds like its that rather than being on maternity leave.

Thanks for helping out. Glad to get it clarified.

Glad it was a positive-ish outcome HalfMum. I think that, when things happen when you're off, there's sometimes the temptation to assume you're being singled out. Glad to hear that you're not. It's tough out there!

Thanks Ribena. Its the isolation/snow etc!