I’ve been off with compassionate leave well within the amount of time allowed by our company policies (just over a week) and kept my manager up to date, even kept my hand in with some emails, slacks, a couple of calls. The project was on track and the team were happy as I left. I got back and they took that project off me citing my personal circumstances.
I know the person who covered me is a favourite of the boss, and I know they have stirred rumours about me and others in the past, I have no proof though. This is a project likely to lead to possible promotions etc and feel it’s been taken away without justification. Where do I stand?
5 comments
Not quite answering your question but take it back. Send an email saying thank you for covering and you ready to get back to work and copy in the one above.
Ex-HR here:
This has nothing to do with HR. Stop emailing us.
The only way I can see this is a legal issue is if you are financially worse off because of it or if there is something in your contract preventing it.
Otherwise it is probably just one of those things that feels unfair because your feelings about the project are not a priority for your management.
Hmmm if the project was behind and had to be reallocated to someone else to keep it from falling failing then sounds reasonable
If they waited for you to come back and everything was on track but they effectively said because your child was sick, we’re moving you off this project then sounds a bit dodge.
I see little difference to you’ve just returned from mat leave, bereavement leave, sick leave so we’re going to do move you to a different role.. especially without having some sort of back to work meeting to discuss your return.
Acas website says to be discrimated or treated unfairly because of parental leave is unlawful.
That being said, it’s worth some push back but do you really want to pursue it any further than that so that you can be promoted in a team and where management and the environment already give you bad vibes?. Time to look outwards maybe?
Yes. The distribution of work is at your manager’s discretion. Moving a large amount of work away from you because you have time off is normal. You have not been mistreated.
Unless you have direct proof in writing that you have been treated differently, you’re a bit stuffed. Even then, being a parent isn’t protected under the Equality Act (pregnancy and maternity are, but that only really covers stuff around babies for the first 6 months or so) so it wouldn’t really come under discrimination in that sense. If you could resolutely prove that without this project you’re not entitled to a bonus you normally would be – and that this is the only factor determining that bonus (e.g. no “at discretion of manager clause they usually have) – and you have that in writing – perhaps. But it’s a stretch.
You can check your internal leave policies around parental leave and see if they have any stipulations for this circumstance. But honestly, it’s unlikely. You have no right to work on certain projects (unless they are written into your contract) and what your day to day job looks like is for seniors to decide.