WWYD... Pregnancy and jobs?

[witsender]

I am about 8 weeks pregnant with a total surprise 3rd baby, existing kids are nearly 7 and 5. Background is that I have been in my current job for nearly 2 yrs, working for a charity part time for only a little over minimum wage. Kids are home educated so we work around each other, both part time.

Just before I found out I was pregnant i started looking for other roles...More money, more 'career like. I was offered an interview for what would be my dream job, were i not pregnant. This is tomorrow.

My dilemma is whether it is feasible to go to an interview pregnant. I am already showing slightly so would need to hide it, no-one other than DH knows yet. Whilst i know that it is within my rights, i would feel deceitful. It is another charity/public interest group so not a big company that can easily absorb absences. On the other hand due to our current arrangements i could decide to only take say 2 months maternity and then go back, as DH would be with the kids for the rest of the time anyway. In the long term the new job would pay more and open more doors, it would be more hours and would require one long day in much hated childcare for the kids however.

Old job is one I love, with great people, hours that work well for us and has always been very accommodating with child illness, doctors appts etc. I've even taken the kids to work with me on occasion where necessary. I could decide to stick with it for less stress and upheaval in pregnancy, and given my low salary statutory maternity pay only works out about £60 less than my pay per month, which they could get back. If I stayed in my current role I could easily take 6 to 9 months off, with DH still only working 3 days a week and we would be the same financially. There is also the option for him to go up to more days as well we think.

So i don't know what to do!
A) Go for the new job, with the increased salary, 'status' and opportunities long term but risk pissing them off by needing to go on maternity within 6 months of starting and maybe not making it through probation because of it.
B) Stick with old, comfortable job. Less money and 'transferable skills' but flexibility, known workload and staff etc, less likely to piss them off when i take maternity leave. Then potentially look for other work towards end of maternity if i still want to move on.

I have been going round in circles with this.

[SquedgieBeckenheim]

I would go to the interview then decide if offered the job.

[twobambinos]

Same as pp go for interview and decide if you get offered the job. Also interviewers won't know what your usual figure is so might not obviously look pregnant to them.

[TittyGolightly]

You won't be eligible for SMP if you change jobs whilst pregnant.

[HelenaGWells]

Check the maternity pay rules. You may get much less or even nothing if you change jobs when pregnant.

[witsender]

I would be eligible for maternity allowance though I think? Which is pretty much the same as SMP but without the 90% for 6 wks bit at the beginning...

[andintothefire]

Definitely go to the interview at least. The only time I would have a slight problem with this situation (having been manager of a small charity) is if you were almost certainly not intending to go back to work after maternity leave. I think that would be a bit unfair on the charity and on other applicants for the job. In your situation I don't see anything wrong with going for it, and with taking as much maternity leave as you need afterwards. Good luck!

[witsender]

If I went for the new job I would definitely go back to it, it would be my old job that i might consider leaving/looking for something else from.

[JoJoSM2]

It's worth going to the interview. You can decide afterwards. If you can manage with whatever SMP/MA etc you'll be eligible for, then it is viable option.

[missymayhemsmum]

Go for the interview, and don't mention the pregnancy. But if you are offered the job, you should really be honest and tell them it's your dream job, you would only intend to take a short maternity leave, but you are pregnant, and want them to appoint you knowing that.
Because if you lie about it they will get you out somehow, whereas if they want you they will cope.