was I right not to tell new employer I am/was on mat leave?

[maggiethemagpie]

I have just got a new job after being on mat leave - I couldn't return to my old job as it had moved but I hadn't actually been made redundant as I had told them I'd relocate after my mat leave ended. Then decided this wasn't an option so looked for other things and got a new job - dd is 6 months oldI was a bit paranoid about being discriminated against for being on mat leave so just pretended I was still working. Told the agency I was not happy with my old employer, and told the new employer at interview that I was moving because I wanted part time hours (I went from a full time permanent job to a part time 12 month contract so they were a little suspicious at first , but bought it).

Do you think I was right to be slightly paranoid and not say I was on mat leave? My thinking was that it might count against me, it got down to me and one other person and it may well have swung it in her favour as they would have thought I was rusty/preoccupied with baby/not committed / difficult to go straight into a new job from not working etc. Even if it hadn't, if I hadn't got the job I would never have known if it was the mat leave or something else and it would have driven me crazy!

I've no reason to think they'll find out I lied, as my reference won't say I was on mat leave, although they asked how old my children were and I had to add a few months to my daughter's age so will have to remember that one!

Anyway just wondering if people think I was being unnecessarily paranoid or wise to conceal my mat leave? I don't usually like to lie, but I don't like being discriminated against either.

[KirstyJC]

Why on earth did you lie? Why not say you were on Mat Leave and looking to move to part time hours when you ended?

Now you will have to lie about your DD's age for the whole time you are there - her first birthday, milestones such as walking etc will all be out of sync.

I think you were being really daft but it is done now I suppose. I hope you are a good liar.....you're going to need to be!

[KirstyJC]

Plus of course when you are on Mat leave you are still employed anyway so in actual fact even though you think you have lied, you might actually not have.

[jumblebee]

I don't understand why you would lie? I've just been offered a new job and I'll be going back to work a month earlier than planned, it isn't an issue unless they assumed you wouldn't want to start until your maternity officially ended? Are you going back to work earlier than you would be if you had stayed in your old job?

[maggiethemagpie]

I lied because there was a small chance they would favour the other candidates over me due to them not being rusty from not working the last 9 months. I thought it was a distinct possibility this would not go in my favour.
I don't have to worry too much about the daughters age thing, I'm working from home and the people in the interview will only see me once a blue moon. Obviously if there was any way they would find out I wouldn't have lied, so don't understand why it is going to affect me getting off to a good start in the new job?

[maggiethemagpie]

I am going back earlier than I would be had I stayed, not sure why this is significant?

[NurseyWursey]

You shouldn't have lied.

If you get the job you will have to stop your SMP

[maggiethemagpie]

yes I know that Nursey Wursey - but that's kind of irrelevant to the question. Of course, I'll be earning a salary instead - that's why I'm going back to work.

[NurseyWursey]

maggie

There's one thing you may not have thought off and that's if you have any birth related illnesses and complications in the next year. You're usually entitled to leave with pay without discrimination I believe after maternity of you experience this sort of problem

[NurseyWursey]

but that's kind of irrelevant to the question

Well I was just pointing out one of the factors

[jumblebee]

I was just wondering because the only way you being on maternity leave might have hindered your chance of getting the job would have been if you had said you didn't want to start until your maternity ended. But as you're starting presumably when they need you to, that isn't an issue.
I think maybe you worrying about them wanting someone who hadn't had quite a long stretch of leave is justified, especially as it's so tough to get a job and there's so much competition. Probably best just to put it to the back of your mind for now, there isn't anything you can do about it so best not to worry!

[NurseyWursey]

Oh and did you receive anything above SMP? Or were you only given SMP?

[maggiethemagpie]

only smp - nothing to pay back - one advantage of my former employer being very stingey!

[NurseyWursey]

Oh well that's good then If you're happy with your decision and if you're sure it won't come back and bite you on the arse.. be happy :)

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Good luck. You will be fine.

[Anaisa]

What about paye? Would the new employer not see that your income for the year is very low? I suppose if you are not starting until April this won't be an issue.

I probably wouldn't have lied for the fear of being found out, but it obviously felt right to you to do this at the time so I wouldn't loose sleep over it. The market is competitive and who knows how things would have turned out if you didn't.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yes, won't they wonder about the figures on your P45? You might get away with it with the change in the tax year as Anaisa says, but that's pure luck.

[maggiethemagpie]

well it's a big company so the payroll guys won't really cross paths with my boss, or care. Besides they know I've got a baby (albeit slightly older!) as I told them I had kids to explain why I wanted part time hours, so I would have been on mat leave at some point in the last year.

[MrsMargoLeadbetter]

I can understand too. You just never know what assumptions some people might make.

I always used to take my wedding ring off for interviews as I didn't want to encourage any assumptions!

You were technically still employed.