Complaint/discrimination

Jojo55

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and due to start maternity leave mid-Sept. I recently applied for an internal vacancy under the advice that I'd be a good candidate for the role in question and that pregnancy shouldn't deter me as the business cannot discriminate.

Today i receive an email saying that i haven't made interview stages. This beggars belief considering the advice i was given by HR, my background within the company and the reason they gave - experience would be essential. This role is bottom of the rank for this field so there isn't anyway of gaining experience internally, and the advert clearly states "Experience needed - No".

Please don't think this is sour grapes on my behalf, I'm more than humble enough to be turned down for a role that in not suitable for. But today I feel like they probably need an immediate starter and haven't favoured me because I'm due to leave for my mat leave. I don't really know what I can do about this but I'm very upset. I feel if i hadn't made it past interview stages then fair enough. Bearing in mind the lady that I'm replacing has almost identical background to me.

What should/can i do?

Takeaway_Addict

Raise a grievance and then go to a tribunal if their response isn't satisfactory.

Remember, an employer can change their mind, they could have decided that experience was required afterwards. Also, HR aren't going to turn around and say you're not right so take the first paragraph with a pinch of salt

DomRavioli

Hi OP,

So what was the reason they gave?

And do you have proof of discrimination, as in real material proof, not just your word against theirs?

Jojo55

I don't have proof, no, thats why i don't even want to enter this territory if i haven't got a leg to stand on. The only thing i have is that the advert clearly states "no experience is required" and their reason for not offering me an interview is that they feel "experience would be essential" which makes me feel like they aren't being truthful. Secondly, the lady I'm replacing has the same background as me.

Errata

A good candidate for a vacancy is no more than that, and it's quite a meaningless phrase anyway.

stevemLS

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Raise a grievance and then go to a tribunal if their response isn't satisfactory.

And totally destroy any future you may have with your employer!

amiehall

I would be tempted to hang back and see what candidate is appointed in the end. You will then be able to see their background and how much experience they have.

If they turn out to be a similar candidate to yourself then I would consider raising a grievance. Having rights means nothing if people aren't brave enough to hold their employers to account. Discrimination like this, if it has happened, is simply unacceptable.

R_P_W

OP - if you were the hiring manager what would you do? Would you really want to give the role to someone who is then going to disappear for what I guess is a few months?

Takeaway_Addict

stevemLS wrote: »

And totally destroy any future you may have with your employer!

that was a can do, not a should do...

Bantex_2

R_P_W wrote: »

OP - if you were the hiring manager what would you do? Would you really want to give the role to someone who is then going to disappear for what I guess is a few months?

Could be up to a year if the employee decides thats what they want.

haras_nosirrah

A friend of mine went for a promotion at work when she was 7 months pregnant so 4 weeks before going on maternity leave for a year.

Why would an employer hire someone for a job that they clearly want starting now and give it to someone who won't be able to start for a year and many women want to go back part time later for which the role may not be suitable?