Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review Submissions from women and men who have experienced discrimination at work while pregnant, or while on or on return to work after taking parental leave Submission Number: 73 Part C Submission Response Whilst on maternity my position was filled by the manager’s best friend. My replacement did not not go through a formal interview process. I took leave for 9 months. Before I returned to work, I gave 4 weeks notice as was stipulated in our organisational policy. Literally in this time, a new senior management position was created and my maternity replacement was promoted above me and became my manager upon my return. I was NOT given an opportunity to apply for this job, even though my experience and qualifications were far superior. It was not even explained or discussed that there would be a new position created. This was a very awkward and difficult situation for 3 years, until my manager (my maternity leave replacement) finally resigned. Realistically, this was my promotion and represented a vast increase in salary for me and my family. This would have made a significant difference in our lives, given our extra childcare expenses. This was pure discrimination based on the fact that I was on parental leave at the time this position was magically created. Had I never had a baby, I would not be subjected to this form of discrimination or experience. Very little was done or support provided by the HR department, despite my initial discussions with them to try to work out what had happened. In the end, the HR Director did offer an apology for the way she was appointed and that I should have been given a chance to apply for this job. This was 3 years after the event and very close to a nervous breakdown on my behalf. Upon returning to work and facing this difficult situation, I also uncovered that there was no support for any mothers returning to work. I joined the Union not knowing where to turn or if my position was safe. I also set up a group for mothers who have recently had children and re-joined the workforce. We discussed our very different experiences in returning to work at the same organisation. I discovered that everyone had a different experience, some worse than mine, some better, but there was no level of consistency across the organisation and it
Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review Submissions from women and men who have experienced discrimination at work while pregnant, or while on or on return to work after taking parental leave Submission Number: 73 Part C Submission Response Whilst on maternity my position was filled by the manager’s best friend. My replacement did not not go through a formal interview process. I took leave for 9 months. Before I returned to work, I gave 4 weeks notice as was stipulated in our organisational policy. Literally in this time, a new senior management position was created and my maternity replacement was promoted above me and became my manager upon my return. I was NOT given an opportunity to apply for this job, even though my experience and qualifications were far superior. It was not even explained or discussed that there would be a new position created. This was a very awkward and difficult situation for 3 years, until my manager (my maternity leave replacement) finally resigned. Realistically, this was my promotion and represented a vast increase in salary for me and my family. This would have made a significant difference in our lives, given our extra childcare expenses. This was pure discrimination based on the fact that I was on parental leave at the time this position was magically created. Had I never had a baby, I would not be subjected to this form of discrimination or experience. Very little was done or support provided by the HR department, despite my initial discussions with them to try to work out what had happened. In the end, the HR Director did offer an apology for the way she was appointed and that I should have been given a chance to apply for this job. This was 3 years after the event and very close to a nervous breakdown on my behalf. Upon returning to work and facing this difficult situation, I also uncovered that there was no support for any mothers returning to work. I joined the Union not knowing where to turn or if my position was safe. I also set up a group for mothers who have recently had children and re-joined the workforce. We discussed our very different experiences in returning to work at the same organisation. I discovered that everyone had a different experience, some worse than mine, some better, but there was no level of consistency across the organisation and it