Is this discrimination? Post Reply

[Mayamoo]

I am currently going through a similar situtaion at work. When I was on maternity leave my line manager suggested to me on various occasions that half my job role would be removed on my return to the office. I eventually contacted HR as I was concerned about redundancy etc and they were not aware of any planned re-structuring (on presenting my manager with the feedback from HR he denied any suggestion that he had made the claims!). For the last 2 years, following my return to the office I have been subjected to various forms of bullying by my line manager (excluded from meetings relevant to my role, shouted at in the office in front of colleagues for irrelevant minor issues, micro-managed and then totally ignored for months on end etc etc). I have also been given a zero per cent salary increase for the lat 2 years although I have met all my performance targets and exceeded many. My situation is however slightly different to yours as there is some light at the end of the tunnel for me - I kept a written log of every incident and was seriously contemplating taking out a formal grievance but fortunately am now about to about to move to a new team with a new manager. I am pregnant again and am much more aware of my protected rights. I contacted ACAS and they suggested that I challenge the zero per cent salary icnrease (I have evidence to demonstrate that I have met all my targets and the pay review process appeard to have been applied differently to me compared to other employers) but do not take out a grievance based on maternity-related issues (main reason being that I am changing roles and the process could be long-winded and stressful - last thing that you want when you are pregnant). Mya dvice to you woudl be as follows: keep a record of every incident (dates/times/witnesses) / look up the case studies etc on the ACAS webiste / read up on your remployer's grievance / anti-bullying gudiance / contact your employee assistance programme (or similar) for advice. Once you have gathered all the background relating to your rights you will be in a better position to decide how best to proceed. Hope this helps and hope everything works out for you.

[Mum2Monkey]

Thanks to you all for your views and also to Jo for some fantastic legal advice - I feel a lot more confident about addressing these issues, even though I still don't brave enough to go down a legal route (just yet anyway).

I've started looking at other jobs - being up front about kids and ideally looking for some flexibility. And, maybe it is just lip service, but there appear to be some real and exciting opportunities to progress in other firms - which has also given my confidence a boost and made me realise that maybe I'm not stuck where I am.

I've also arranged a discussion with my boss to go through some of the issues and I'm going to be a little more blunt so he realises there is a problem here. I doubt much will happen as a result, but trying to be open minded. Half of me feels I should go down the legal route (I can't see it getting to tribunal) as there are so many issues that need to be addressed in the firm and it may get the attention of the senior partners - who really don't seem to understand why nothing is changing "on the shop floor". But even though I should make a stand for my sex (!) And fellow colleagues, I would worry about the impact on future career prospects ..... So much easier to find a better company to work for.

Thanks again for your posts. It really has given me lots to think about and the confidence boost that I needed.