I fell pregnant in 2007 and had my beautiful son in early 2008. I was a senior member of staff running the IT department when I went on maternity leave. I had 8 months off work and the day before I was due to return I received a letter asking me to attend a meeting and that I could have an independent rep with me. Yes, they were making me redundant as they had given my job to someone else while I was off. Yes, it was given to a man.
They eventually offered me a role in a different department on 20% less salary and no longer part of the management team. I took it as we desperately needed an income as I had been the main bread winner.
In 2015 I finally worked my way up to being part of the senior management team again. I am the only female in the team and I still earn over 25% less than the next lowest paid manager. One of the managers – who is on the same level as me, earns 4 times the amount I do.