Coca-Cola Executive Claims Demotion After Maternity Leave: A Shocking Workplace Experience

A Stressful Return to Work

A marketing executive at Coca-Cola's Irish branch, Lisa Deveney, has shared her distressing experience of returning from maternity leave, which led her to resign. She felt pressured and bullied into accepting a role she perceived as a demotion from her previous management position to what she described as "nearly a graduate position".

Background of the Case

Deveney had been the premium spirits marketing manager since 2018, and upon returning from maternity leave in January, she expected to reclaim her former role. Instead, she was informed that the person covering her absence would retain her position, leaving her with a junior role in a different department.

Legal Proceedings

During a hearing with the Workplace Relations Commission, Deveney recounted her acute stress reaction and how she felt treated unfairly compared to the employee who had covered her maternity leave. Her barrister, Cillian McGovern, argued that Deveney should have returned to her original position.

In response, Coca-Cola's legal representative, Mary Fay, claimed that the original job had grown too extensive for one person, necessitating a split of duties.

Communication Breakdown

Deveney explained that she was informed about her job change just before her return, which left her feeling uneasy. Her line manager, Johnny Scott, indicated that she wouldn’t return to her previous role, but rather to a new position, the details of which were not provided until her first day back.

Job Specification Concerns

The new role required three-plus years in a marketing department, which Deveney felt was inadequate given her 16 years of experience in the field. She expressed that the responsibilities focused on executing brand plans rather than developing them, contrasting sharply with her previous role's strategic nature.

Emotional Toll

Feeling pressured to accept the new position, Deveney ultimately decided against it, citing feelings of being bullied. She suffered a panic attack shortly after and did not return to work before resigning in March. The tribunal is currently awaiting witness evidence from Coca-Cola before proceeding further.