To think I could accept a new job & they wouldn't mind if I got pregnant?

[VeryKeenForABean]

Hi MN Jury!

I am currently trying to conceive after an ectopic, and having lost that pregnancy, both I and DH feel really strongly that having a baby is the way we want to go! I have posted this on the TTC thread but thought I might get some more pov here:

"I need some advice! I have been offered a new job today, starting before Christmas. I went for the interview without any real thoughts that I would get it (5 other applicants) and now I need to give them an answer! It is a really nice job, much more pregnancy/child friendly than my current one, with great prospects. However, I feel really anxious that I might accept and then find out I'm pregnant (which would be the best thing in the world in every other way!) Do you think that would matter? It wouldn't affect my mat leave, just whether they would be v funny with me. On the other hand, I could turn it down and then be ttc for years...Any thoughts?"

[wonderwoman73]

Take the job, you'll regret it if you put the rest of your life on hold but do check out how long you need to be there to be entitled to maternity leave / pay etc

[belgo]

congratulations on the new job -take it! As you say, it may be a while before you become pregnant again (although let's hope it doesn't take that long for you!)

[TrillianA]

Take the job, that way when you do become pregnant you'll be at the more pregnancy/child friendly place.

[poppy34]

agree -take job and hope that is just start of changes in yoru life .. you can't put life on hold for what might be

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

take the job - as you say, you can't put your life on hold while you ttc, what if it doesn't happen for a while (not jinxing you, just being realistic)? I always think you just have to get on with your life until such a time as you are definitely pregnant, and then you can take that into account.

Congratulations on the job!

[pamelat]

take it and see what happens.

[TheBlonde]

Take the job

[GooseyLoosey]

I would take the job. However, I would be prepared for them to be less than happy if I got pregnant shortly afterwards. As long as you are prepared for this, go for it!

[takingitasitcomes]

Take the job - as you acknowledge, there's no way on knowing how long TTC will take, and it is entirely healthy and reasonable to get on with normal life at the same time.

[VeryKeenForABean]

Thank you so much for the speedy replies and wise words! (I am still a fairly novice MNetter and feel quite excited by the opportunity to tap into so much wisdom !)

Will of course have a chat with DH but really feel it's a risk I'm willing to take.

Thank you x

[slalomsuki]

I took a new job and the day I started found out I was pregnant with ds1. A few people said things behind my back but that was only after I told them when I was 5 1/2 months pregnant and therefore had been in the job for 5 1/2 months!

I have since returned to work, had two more kids and gotten promoted all with the same employer

Go for it

[BouncingTurtle]

Take the job! They cannot discriminate against you because you are TTCing or pg!

[elliott]

take the job. You can't control whether or not they will 'mind' if you get pregnant (and of course, on one level, you would hope they would mind! as they won't want to see you gone!) but the key thing is that they are likely to be decent to you. You might want to bear in mind the implications of a change of job for maternity rights, however - I'm pretty sure you have to have been in a job for 12 months by a certain stage (28 weeks?) to qualify for the full range of maternity pay etc.

[elliott]

ah, you say it won't affect maternity rights - so is it a promotion or new role with the same employer? Whatever, I would try to check it out.

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

no - to get SMP you only have to have been employed for a week.

your new employer may offer enhanced maternity benefits on top of SMP, however, which only kick in after a certain time, worth checking out.

[kitbit]

You may not get the full company mat benefits but as long as you are prepared for that go for it. You might spend the next 5 years waiting to have been in the job for the "right" amount of time before ttc and might miss an opportunity. I spent years almost making it to the 2 year deadline then getting made redundant - you can't plan these things sometimes!

[Lotster]

You can get SMP if you have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (which is approximately the 26th week of pregnancy).
In other words you need to have started the job before you got pregnant, and you are still in your job in the 15th week before your baby is due - even if it's only for one day that week - or you are off sick or on holiday, and you actually receive at least £90.00 (before tax) per week in earnings, on average the eight weeks (if you are paid weekly) or two months (if you are paid monthly) up to the last pay day before the end of the 15th week before your baby is due.

[Lotster]

And take it by the way! There's a crunch on and it's every woman for herself!!

[rookiemater]

Take it. Clearly they will not be delighted for you if you get preggers the minute you walk through the door, but in this day and age they will have to plaster their gracious smile on and pretend they are. Oh and good luck with TTC.

[VeryKeenForABean]

Thank you for all your advice! Am impressed at the complexity of the benefits!! It is a job with the same overall employer, just on a different site/line management etc, so previous pay & conditions etc will apply.

Feel much more excited about it all now!