Apparently You Can’t Get Promoted on Maternity Leave

So she left, got a better job, a pay rise, and more flexibility. Cheers for the motivation, lads.

Let’s talk about something that came into my inbox, and by “talk” I mean rage gently into the void while writing this with clenched teeth and a passive-aggressive font.

A lovely follower shared this with me:

“Had worked for the same company in a male-dominated industry for 6 years before going on 9 months maternity leave in 2022. Had always received amazing feedback, praise, and been given a lot of responsibility.

Upon my return to work, I found out that ALL other employees on my level (all men and some of whom had been working for less time than me) had been promoted because they ‘had managed the correct level of project’ whilst I was off.

I was told I’d need to do the same, but in the 6 months I was back, I wasn’t given any major projects - just lots of smaller works (which, by the way, take just as much time, effort, and skill to juggle). But apparently, those don’t count for progression.

So I quit. Took a promotion, a pay rise, and got more flexible working at a new company.”

Let’s pause.
Let it soak in.
All the men got promoted.
Because they were present. Not necessarily better. Not necessarily more experienced.
Just... there.

That’s it, isn’t it? You blink, you grow a human, you keep your body alive while being kicked in the bladder, you return nine months later still lactating, and you’re told that everyone else has climbed the ladder while you were “away.”

You weren’t on sabbatical.
You weren’t on a beach in Bali.
You were on maternity leave. You know… the thing we are legally allowed to do without being punished for it?

And here’s the kicker: she asked to get back into the same kinds of projects. She didn’t come back asking for a red carpet and a cheese board. She just wanted fair access. And instead, they handed her a pile of thankless tasks, said “that’s not promotable,” and left her to rot at her level while patting each other on the back for managing “real” projects.

Maternity leave isn’t a career break. It’s a bloody career shift.

You come back with more skills, not less. Time management? You’re now able to reply to emails, breastfeed, cook pasta, and remove a sticker from a toddler’s hair simultaneously!!!

Negotiation? Ever tried getting a toddler into a car seat they don’t want to be in? That’s HR-level diplomacy with a side of hostage crisis management.

So when a woman returns to work and is treated like a faded version of her former self, it’s not just wrong, it’s bad business.

And yet here we are.

The good news? She left. She found a new role that valued her, paid her more, and gave her flexibility.

Let me say that again for the people at the back:
She left. She was rewarded. And she’s not looking back.

Because sometimes the system won’t change fast enough. And sometimes the only way to win is to walk away and build something better.

So if you're reading this and thinking, “Oh god, this is me. I came back and they gave me admin, crumbs, and a gaslighting sandwich” - know this:

It’s not in your head.
It’s not your fault.
And you are not the problem.

They are.

And your talents? Still there. Your fire? Still burning. And somewhere out there, there’s a company that’s not afraid of a woman who’s had a baby and still dares to want a career.

Send me your stories. Share this with someone who needs to know they’re not alone!