do i have a case? UPDATE

[chilibeansm0m]

I'm really angry right now. I've been at my current emoloyer for 5.5 years. i have been in my current position for almost 2 years. I have only received one 50 cent raise in that time. It's been almost a year since I received that.

My responsibilities and jobs recently changed. I am currently in charge of one employee and have much more power in decision making on hiring and referrals.

Last time i went on mat leave i was told while my review was outstanding there was a hold on raises. Conveniently enough the raise went through the same day my mat leave started. I thought that was no coincidence.

This time I have a different boss. He swore up and down i would be promoted and recommended for a raise. He even told me my new job title. He didn't promise anything though and did not put anything in writing. He comes in today after a big meeting and says while he can promote me he cannot offer me a raise because there is a freeze again. Really? Again? Here we go again. I cannot help but think my mat leave is a convenient excuse again. He says he *should* be able to offer me a new positon and raise upon my return and "isn't that better?" Well no its not because this is what happened last time. I cannot believe this is happening again.

I haven't done anything yet cause i haven't talked to dh yet. But I'm reconsidering going back now. I want to talk to someone in hr about it but am wondering if i even have a case or is it worth rocking the boat?? Do i just need to accept this? I can't help but think they're just doing this to me again because I'm going on leave.

I do have it good here other than this. He lets me pretty much take off whenever, come in and leave when i want, work from home if need be and i am allowed to pump whenever-i know technically they're supossed to allow this but i know not al employers do.

Wwyd??


2/6 in a strange turn of events my assistant, was just told by my boss who told me no raise he is waiting for a approval to give her a raise. Wtf? I am the one who will have to fill out the paperwork. I do have to say something if i do this, correct?

[TheEleventhHour]

Ugh. Sorry. This seems like such a frustrating situation! Unfortunately I don't think you can really prove your maternity leave is the reason they are holding your raise. The only thing I can think of is if he is telling you there is a freeze on raises for everyone but other people are actually getting raises and you are the only one being left out. Other than that it just looks like a coincidence and would likely be hard to prove otherwise.

If this were me I would talk to DH and weigh the pros/cons. Was the promise of a raise the only thing keeping you there? Are the benefits you mentioned in your post ones you could easily find elsewhere? I know for me flexibility in a job is key as a mom. If the raise promised was not a substantial one then I wouldn't rock the boat because it sounds like there are other perks to the job. However, if the raise was going to drastically change my income and they kept going back on the promise I might start looking for other jobs or considering other situations (such as SAH) once A arrives. Though I do understand frustration of having more responsibility in your promotion but making the same amount as before. Are you in non-profit? I used to work non-profit and we were constantly told there were freezes on the ability to give raises but the benefits (insurance, vacation, etc) were so good I stayed.

Hugs! I hope you figure it all out!

[talkativ15]

No advice here but that stinks. I know I work for a major instance company and they are open with what budgets for raises are. There has been years were there hasn't been a lot and years where there are. I don't think it would hurt to speak with hr or your boss firectly and just be honest that you feel that there is a correlation between your maternity leaves and raises and see what they say. They cannot retaliate

[chilibeansm0m]

TheEleventhHour that's basically what dh said. He said i have to suck it up. I don't think the raise would be that substantial. And yes 3 other people got raises recently but not me. But they're all higher up. 1 was promoted too. I am discussing with H about sahm. I think i want to pack up my stuff and give them my keys just in case. Just to send a message.

[TheEleventhHour]

Feb 3, 2015 20:31:42 GMT -5 chilibeansm0m said:

TheEleventhHour that's basically what dh said. He said i have to suck it up. I don't think the raise would be that substantial. And yes 3 other people got raises recently but not me. But they're all higher up. 1 was promoted too. I am discussing with H about sahm. I think i want to pack up my stuff and give them my keys just in case. Just to send a message.

Yeah, I'd be a bit pissed if they were still giving raises to others even if they were higher up because they've clearly been talking about giving you a raise for quite some time. That is just shitty of them. Sending more hugs! Let us know how it goes (staying at work vs. SAHM)!

[jobiann]

I'm in a job that is very unappreciative as well, it sucks. I think I've gotten 2 & 3% raises since I've been here, so at least that is something. But it pays fairly well, and has great benefits plus I only work M-F 8-4:30 so that is really nice.

Whenever I look at job changes I write a Pro vs Con list so I can see everything up front.

Unfortunately I think I'm stuck for some time....

[bennikki]

That really sucks, and I think I'd be direct with your boss as well. I left a job many years ago because the pay was crap and they kept adding responsibility to my position without reflecting it in my pay. When I put in my notice, the first thing they asked was if it was because of the pay. I would have left the job within the next two years anyway because of others responsibilities in my life, but what really pissed me off was the fact that they were at least aware that my pay was not reflective of my work yet never gave a raise.

There were some articles out last Fall about women not feeling as comfortable as a man to ask for a raise because we believe our actions and abilities on the job should be reason enough to give a raise, not the fact that we asked for one which men are much more comfortable with. I'd give your boss one more chance to give you a raise, and it should be before your maternity leave or at least in writing that it begins upon return from leave. Lay out for him that you are in a new position that requires more responsibility and being compensated at a rate below what you should be paid for your previous position because you "missed out" on the raises with your last maternity leave. This shady promise stuff needs to stop either way.

[chilibeansm0m]

Feb 5, 2015 14:58:47 GMT -5 privacy said:

***THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE****

Pregnancy discrimination is really really hard to prove. And there's no right to a timely raise, so not getting raises makes it even harder. Now, if you were told that there were freezes on raises, and then you learned that someone in the same position, with the same seniority, got a raise that would change things and I'd tell you to consult an employment lawyer.

But as it is, it just sucks. I was at my old firm for 5 years, I never got a raise, and because in the legal field you typically get a raise every year, I was falling behind my peers and essentially getting a paycut. I know that it was largely because I took 2 maternity leaves. But it's impossible to prove that's the reason.

If you're being treated like that, I'd encourage you to start looking for other positions. Leaving last year was the best thing I ever did work-wise and I'm paid at peer level now, and have more flexibility.

privacy i love your starred this is not legal advice. But I'll admit i did want your feedbacK. I think it just sucks in general too. since were friends outside of work I'm just trying to see if i should say something or not.