Just offered someone a job and now she's told me she's pregnant! Disaster!

[Calendar]

Have spent months recruiting for someone, thought I'd found the perfect person. We've sent out the contract, agreed a start date, she has handed in her notice but before she sent the contract back she rang and told me she had just found out she is pregnant!
Obviously I want to do right by her, but it makes life very difficult for me. It will take 6 months to train her up, then we will have to get in a temp to cover her. Also, this is a trainee position and she is supposed to be taking exams for the next 3 years in order to qualify (finance) but that doesn't seem very likely any more.
According to our company handbook, she is not entitled to company maternity pay or even SMP, but she may get maternity allowance.
What a disaster! Any advice? I have got our HR dept looking into this, but they don't seem to know much about it. I want to make sure I do the right thing by this girl but it's really not an ideal situation.

[doggiesayswoof]

Well- I'm just about to tell my employer that I'm pg and I feel a whole lot better about it now

[edam]

I know it's awkward and not ideal but afraid it's just one of those things; employees are human beings. Someone else you employ tomorrow may get ill, or have an elderly relative who gets ill, etc. etc. etc.

[Wisteria]

I feel for you - can't give you much advice to be honest as I think the majority of employers would just find a reason to not extend the trial period (obviously the pregnancy not being the reason), but wanted to say that you are very good to be trying to do the right thing by her.

[ladymuck]

OK well first off, you are insane posting this type of message on this forum!

But under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, withdrawal of a job offer on the grounds of pregnancy would amount to direct sex discrimination and risk a big compensation pay-out. I'm afraid that if she chooses to send the contract back signed, then you have to go ahead and deal with it in the same way as if she had told you this in a month's time. You're making a lot of assumptions about her future plans though.

[Calendar]

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to wriggle out of any obligations here, I just want to work out how to let her know that it may not be ideal for her financially.

[bossykate]

agree with ladymuck.

[bossykate]

i would never tell a future employer i was pregnant before the deal was signed - because of exactly this type of reaction

[Wisteria]

Can't see why she is insane for posting this - it is a completely fair question and as she says, she wants to do the right thing by this girl.
I think the thing to do is to find out what this girl is going to do, how long she expects to be off for etc. Of course it isn't an ideal situation, it's difficult for any business but it's just life I'm afraid.

[bossykate]

guess what this is calendar's only post.

[morningpaper]

LOL this is a real nightmare for small companies

It's going to cost you a lot of money to get a temp and train someone else.

I do sympathise

This is why some small companies don't employ women who are likely to get pregnant -people don't realise how much hassle it can be

I would sit down and discuss it with her - are you able to be flexible re. returning to work part-time? Obviously you can't do much about it but you will need to work out how you can carry on your business with as little interuption and expense as possible

[nailpolish]

you are entitled to mat pay from your employer if you have worked with them for 26weeks before the 11th week of confinement (have always hated that term!) are you not?
so if she is say, 3 weeks pg, she might JUST be entitled to mat pay. but i dont know if it varies from employer to employer. that was the case at my work anyway
i had a friend who was 3 or 4 mths pg when she started a new job, she didnt get any mat pay but she still got the stat mat pay, of course. she saved up really hard and worked some overtime in the early stages to have money to cover her for her mat leave

hth

[bossykate]

but it's not a fair question - it's a discriminatory question.

[nailpolish]

i think you are all being very mean - calendar is only being honest saying "its a nightmare" but i think he/she (and i suspect this is a man) is kind of looking for advice and reassurance

[bossykate]

oh so it's mean to point out discrimination? what if this poster had come on saying i've found the perfect person but she's black? or jewish? discrimination is discrimination.

[nailpolish]

the OP isnt discriminating.

[motherinferior]

I once applied for a job when a couple of months pregnant. I wanted the job. I'd have done it extremely well. Had I been offered it, I damn well hope the employer would have had the sense to recognise that fact.

[Wisteria]

Why is it a discriminatory question, she has factually stated the situation and is now looking for advice - she wants to know what is the correct thing to do.

Had she said - how can I get rid of her? for instance then that would have been a discriminatory question.

[nailpolish]

yes i agree with wisteria

i have read and re-read the OP and i cant see how its discriminating. sorry.

[Bundle]

"thought I'd found the perfect person" does imply that calendar would rather not have to deal with this situation - "it makes life very difficult for me".

What about the pg woman? Life will be hard for her studying for a new qualification with a small baby to look after too. I think the OP could have used more supportive language if she really wanted to help this woman.

She may not be entitled to maternity pay, but if the company wants to hold onto this woman (who's obviously of pretty high calibre) then it would be a great gesture to offer her above the legal minimum required.

[morningpaper]

Erm no because black people or Jewish people aren't likely to spend 6 months throwing up and then definitely leave the company for 6 months after they've been trained up for a few months, thus costing the company large amounts of money in training TWO people for one job

as far as I am aware

[Jackstini]

I don't think the OP is being discriminating - just wants to know the best way to deal with the situation so is asking a group of people who it matters to what they think - wise move IMO!
Calender - no it is not ideal but life is like that sometimes.
On the bright side - she has been honest and up front which is a good quality in an employee.
To do right by her I think you need to advise her of the financial implications re meternity leave so that she can make an informed decision about working for you.
Re the training - don't presume she won't do this, it is part of the job and she knows this. Plenty of women on this forum with young babies and children are training and taking exams right now.
Most importantly - talk to her. Find out what she thinks about the situation and how she is going to handle it then work on it together - that's what colleagues do
Good luck

[bossykate]

no, kerrymum, it's not "underhanded and sly", it's working to pay the bills, you know, paid work, what your dh does all day.

[Calendar]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start a row. A colleague told me about this site and I thought I'd try here, as HR have spent over a week mulling this issue over. Maybe this was not the right place to ask. Apologies again. I do want to stress that at no point was I trying or intending to discriminate, I just wanted to ensure that I was doing the right thing.