I'm pregnant and I think I'm being treated unfairly. What do I do now?

11newbie

Hello,

I'm really confused about a work matter and would appreciate any help.

Some background info for you: I am a retail manager, have been with the company for 5 years, and in September was offered a bigger store to run. I turned them down as I had found out I was pregnant and knew it would be too much work for me for no more salary. (The current manager of the store I was asked to go to is currently doing 70 hours per week for no extra pay!).

I told my employers I was pregnant at 10 weeks, as I caught swine flu after a three day meeting, and had to take time off work. (Over the three day meeting, we started work at 6.30am one morning, and I had about two hours sleep a night as the company had put on a really loud disco/party each night, and my roommate was !!!!ed.)

For the last couple of months, I feel their attitude towards me has changed. For example, I asked for help with a procedure, they told me to go ahead with it, and it turns out I did it wrong. They want to take disciplinary measures against me, but I have a record of a meeting from two years ago in which I specifically said I am unable to do this part of my job properly until I receive training, and got their permission before I did it.

It's only verbal over the phone, but they were very aggressive in their tone, and asked how I would like it if they came down and told me they were reducing my contract, and that I shouldn't have needed to do the procedure in the first place if I had managed them properly.

I got another phonecall a few days later, and they said I was doing well for not crying (!) and their tone was really threatening.

It left me really upset.

And now today, I was expecting a bonus for reaching a target over xmas. I was expecting it to be large, as I don't have an assisstant manager this month and so I do not share the management bonus. It's about £700 less than I was expecting. I am gutted. It says in my contract that the bonus is always subject to their discretion and can change, but I feel absolutely taken the !!!! out of. They've never changed it before. I worked so hard over xmas to get this bonus, as I could obviously do with the money now I have a baby on the way.

I also asked for a risk assessment when I told them I was pregnant and it has never happened.

I just feel so awful about it all. I can't sleep at night and I don't know where to turn to.

The company has a really flat structure, with no area managers and no HR department.

Literally the only people to turn to are the people treating me like this.

I don't know what to do. I don't want to get stressed and it affect my pregnancy and baby.

I sent off my MAT B1 form, and am just waiting to hear back about my maternity leave. I have about three weeks holiday to take, and baby is due 4th May. I am now 26 weeks pregnant.

The company only pay statutory maternity pay, not contractual, so if I don't return to them after my leave I don't have to pay anything back.

Sorry this is so long, I just don't know what to do. I feel like not going back at all and just hiding from it. What's so fustrating is that the company I work for pride themselves on their ethics, and it's such a mockery that they don't support their staff, let alone their pregnant ones.

I went to the Citizens Advice Bureau, but the volunteer didn't know much about how to make a complaint at work, and he said that maternity pay is the reason the economy is in turmoil now, and that I am lucky to get anything. Nice and impartial just what I need to hear, thanks!

What would you do if you were in my position? Who would you approach?

maninthestreet

11newbie wrote: »

I went to the Citizens Advice Bureau, but the volunteer didn't know much about how to make a complaint at work, and he said that maternity pay is the reason the economy is in turmoil now, and that I am lucky to get anything.

If the CAB Advisor did say this to you, I would lodge a formal complaint with CAB about this.

11newbie

maninthestreet wrote: »

If the CAB Advisor did say this to you, I would lodge a formal complaint with CAB about this.

Yes I was shocked. I felt sorry for the volunteer though, he was really quite elderly. I don't think I'd like to make a complaint against him for this reason.

whitewing

11newbie wrote: »

Yes I was shocked. I felt sorry for the volunteer though, he was really quite elderly. I don't think I'd like to make a complaint against him for this reason.

But he may be dealing with other people like this. In any case, if he has a good supervisor they will handle the complaint (aka training issue) sensitively.

Try phoning ACAS.

Vader123

What was the procedure?

Vader

11newbie

Vader123 wrote: »

What was the procedure?

Vader

Staff contract hours change.

ohreally

11newbie wrote: »

. For example, I asked for help with a procedure, they told me to go ahead with it, and it turns out I did it wrong.

Do you have a paper trail relating to this request?

11newbie wrote: »

I also asked for a risk assessment when I told them I was pregnant and it has never happened.

Again, do you have a paper trail re the RA, was the discussion by email?

I take it as a manager you will be cute enough to cover your tail in the event of relationships deteriorating and finding yourself in the firing line....always, always generate a paper trail.

Anihilator

hmmmm

Tbh I think you are trying to use the pregnancy as a defence. You are a manager and if you can't/don't do your job well or properly you can expect a bollicking.

If you cry when you get bollicked then you can expect to be mocked.

If you havent had proper training then why didnt you ask for this or bring it up at appraisals.

As for bonuses, companies are struggling, I am not surprised the bonuses were lower.

11newbie

ohreally wrote: »

Do you have a paper trail relating to this request?



Again, do you have a paper trail re the RA, was the discussion by email?

I take it as a manager you will be cute enough to cover your tail in the event of relationships deteriorating and finding yourself in the firing line....always, always generate a paper trail.

Hi, cheers for your response.

I have a paper trail relating to the training request, and the 'go ahead' from them to proceed.

I do not have a paper trail re the RA. I can certainly start that today though.

Uncertain

11newbie wrote: »

Yes I was shocked. I felt sorry for the volunteer though, he was really quite elderly. I don't think I'd like to make a complaint against him for this reason.

This is a very nice sentiment but if "advice" this bad is being given out then something need to be done.

11newbie

Anihilator wrote: »

hmmmm

Tbh I think you are trying to use the pregnancy as a defence. You are a manager and if you can't/don't do your job well or properly you can expect a bollicking.

If you cry when you get bollicked then you can expect to be mocked.

If you havent had proper training then why didnt you ask for this or bring it up at appraisals.

As for bonuses, companies are struggling, I am not surprised the bonuses were lower.

Hi, thanks for your response.

With regards to doing my job properly, I am actually one of the highest performing managers within the company, and have a record of quite considerable LFL sales and profit margins. This is why I was offered the bigger store.

I will re-read my original post, but I thought I had made it clear that I *did* in fact ask for extra training in a certain area, the earliest request being 2008 at an appraisal, and the latest being a few weeks ago. I got the 'go ahead' to continue with a procedure, after asking if I was correct in doing so, and it turns out I was unknowingly wrong.

I haven't cried at any point, so I'm not sure where you've got that from, although I am upset at their marked change in attitude towards me.

RE the bonuses, I work for a company who have grown steadily throughout the recession, and figures are really strong. We've just had the best xmas on record, and have been trading for 15+ years. I worked incredibly hard over xmas to meet my sales target in order to get my bonus. I made my target; they have not paid the bonus. This is the first month they have withheld my bonus in over five years, and it coincides with their marked attitude towards me.

You raise a good point though. Am I being a squinny, when in fact I am being treated fairly? I don't think I am, which is why I have asked for advice.