The PDA recently supported a member facing discrimination after it was revealed that the pharmacist was not receiving her proper maternity pay. The employer was inappropriately refusing to pay the full entitlement due to the pharmacist. The PDA calls any situations where employers withhold payment due to employees ‘wage theft’ and believes this is unacceptable.
The pharmacist, who is a member of the PDA, was able to seek support with her circumstances from the PDA. Her employer, which is part of the NHS, owed her the back-dated pay increase to which all NHS employees were entitled as part of the 2023 pay review. Having backdated the pay increase, the individual’s maternity pay should have been calculated using the increased rate of pay, but the employer was refusing to do this.
This situation of underpayment was only occurring because the member was on maternity leave and therefore, it was considered discrimination. Had the member not been on maternity leave, her normal monthly pay would have reflected the backdated pay increase.
As an independent trade union, the PDA was able to support the member in registering a grievance through the employers’ internal procedures and simultaneously seek ACAS mediation to protect any Employment Tribunal Limitation dates.
With the help of the PDA, a settlement agreement was ultimately reached and the employer agreed to make the payment of more than £3,000 in respect of the discrepancies in the calculation of maternity pay made so far. The maternity pay for the remaining months of the maternity leave will now be paid at the correct rate, properly taking into account the accurate rate of payment for the qualifying 12 weeks prior to the commencement date of the members maternity leave (including the back dated pay increase).
Whether deliberate or in error, pharmacists may face all sorts of unexpected issues at work. This member did not anticipate that her employer would underpay her, but because she was able to seek the help of her trade union, she was able to get expert support to resolve the situation when it occurred.
Pharmacists in general may benefit from much of the PDA’s work as the independent voice of employed and locum pharmacists. However, it is important to recognise that pharmacists wishing to seek specific support from the PDA, must be members.
The PDA operates four Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Networks, including the 118-year-old National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP). Through the networks and as the PDA itself, the organisation contributes to awareness of equality issues and the measures that can be used to improve equality overall. However, the PDA does not limit itself to such broader debate, policy development, and initiatives. The PDA is also supporting individual members who are subject to discrimination in their university or workplace.
Learn more
- Pharmacist racially harassed by pharmacy team members – UPDATED WITH FULL TRIBUNAL JUDGMENT
- PDA EDI Networks
- The PDA NAWP Network
- Guide to: Discrimination and the pregnant employee
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