To have done a job interview at 20 weeks pregnant and not disclosed

My thoughts too. The law is there to be interpreted in good faith. We’re still human beings who operate on trust and common sense. The sad thing is I think she could have been honest and they still would have appointed her. It’s the honesty that’s the issue.

That’s a very short term gain, versus working long term in an environment where no one likes you.

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Op, I had a role for a business manager a few years ago. I was clear with HR and recruiters I needed someone in April (ad went out in Dec as it would have taken that long to recruit) found the candidate - male. Asked the same question. Made the formal interview mid jan with a view to starting 01 April. He accepted the verbal offer on the Friday, I instructed HR to sort the details. On Monday morning I opened my inbox to an email from him thanking me for the opportunity (large global corporate that we all know/use) saying he has handed in his registration and will be working his notice to join us in April however he had x and x and x booked etc so effectively he could only join end of June! I had a piece of work that needed doing hence the timelines… relationship never felt right. I had to get a contractor I , he started in July and he was gone by the end of the year…I should never have hired him. You seem very hot on your rights but cold on your morals.

I’m 25 weeks pregnant.

My original manager knew from 6 weeks in January as HG (severe morning sickness) kicked in at 6 weeks and I ended up on the sick for 2 months. After 2 months I returned as I’d found a medication protocol that allowed
me to get back to normality. I worked in an entry level customer service role. They have dozens of staff so my pregnancy didn’t really affect the team that much.

An internal role came up within the business in March. It would essentially be a promotion. Pay rise, more responsibilities (but generally nicer hours and less front-line customer contact, which is a huge bonus), no weekends, smaller team. I applied expecting nothing to come of it. I surprisingly got invited for an interview in April. I was 20 weeks when I interviewed. I had pondered over whether to disclose the pregnancy at the interview. This internal department is in a different part of the building to where I worked so they don’t know me at all. And my line manager at the time confirmed they wouldn’t tell them about the pregnancy and that it was up to me when I disclose. This job role that had come up was something I’ve desired to get into ever since joining the company, and I really wanted to give it my best shot, so I decided not to disclose, as was my legal right.

I interviewed at 20 weeks in April and felt I hid the bump well. We clicked really well at interview and they really liked me. They asked about pre-booked holidays etc. they then asked “Is there anything else we need to know about?” and I cheerfully said “no”. I felt awful about this at the time but on the other hand, as I said, I wanted them to review me as a candidate fairly without just being seen as “the pregnant candidate”.

Middle of May I got offered the role and accepted. The call where they offered the role was very rushed as they were snowed under, and I didn’t get chance to disclose the pregnancy as she said “Right I’ll be in touch when I’ve got a start date I need to go now, take care!” and abruptly hung up.

The next day (my final day before 17 days of annual leave) I messaged the new manager asking if she had time for a call and she never replied. I wanted to disclose the pregnancy then. I then went on the pre-booked
holiday and still didn’t have a start date.

Came back from my holiday and returned to work 26th May after the bank holiday and went to sit in my usual part of the office and got pulled away by my new manager, taken to their department and told I’m starting straight away. By this point I’m 25 weeks so I had to tell them. It was all quite rushed and they’ve been off with me ever since. Nobody has said anything but they aren’t friendly with me like they have been prior and at one point I was asked why I hadn’t disclosed at interview. They exclude me from friendly chat and I have to ask them what they want me to be doing with my time and my training.

I do feel awful for inconveniencing them but I don’t think I did anything wrong by not disclosing at interview. I had intended to tell them earlier than when I did but I just never got the right moment. I thought we’d have a time to sit down together and go through contracts etc and I would’ve mentioned it then but this never happened.

I have seen there is another woman on the team who is pregnant and due to go on leave so I suspect they had intended me to take over from her and that is why they are pissed off. They hadn’t told me this at interview though. Ironically I’m actually due before this other woman so I can see why they are fuming but legally I’ve not done anything wrong. It does prove that if I’d have disclosed at interview they probably would’ve not hired me and would’ve made up a non-pregnancy related reason to justify it.

Am I am awful employee? I’m concerned that my relationship with my managers will never recover from this and it’s a shame as I really have a huge interest in this role and have every intention of going back full-time after mat leave.

Don't be ridiculous.

You know that's a straw man argument.

I was simply stating the challenges for employers and for employees who have to cover.

OP isn't 'wrong'. But lets not pretend that there aren't issues where people can be legitimately pissed off regardless.

OP was very open in stating she went for this job because she wouldn't have been able to continue in her previous job as a new Mum. And she has savings so she wouldn't be able to access UC straight away.

And now she's got them over a barrel legally.

It's legal but it doesn't mean people can't be pissed off by it.

In the course of my work which is NHS i've had people like OP take jobs while pregnant and not made that clear which causes problems.

Also had a colleague have 3 kids in 5 years. Twice coming back from MAT leave pregnant. Completely legal but also f-ed over the NHS and her colleagues.

She wasn't wrong in doing what she wanted but also, none of her colleagues were wrong in being pissed off.

Goodness me, I was being tongue in cheek.

Quite. And now there is a poster saying they don’t think I deserve enhanced mat pay at all. Despite my employer offering it and encouraging me to take it! Complete fucking madness.

I tend to enjoy every single penny of that enhanced mat pay which will land in my bank account each month. I may even use it to travel for a month with my baby whilst I have the time off work. That’ll really piss these posters off

How on EARTH did someone who was 8 MONTHS pregnant manage to hide her 'bump?'

I’ve got every intention of doing the work after I’ve popped out my kid and spent a year at home with them, as I said from my very first post. Go and punch a wall or
something, you seem a bit riled up.

What’s the point of your AIBU? You clearly don’t think you’ve done anything wrong.

Green eyed monster because you're getting paid for work you haven't done and had no intention of doing?

Yeah. Most people are jealous of people getting paid for work they don't do.

I'm totally jealous but also didn't fall for your BS.

The issues is the bleeding hearts on MN thinking you've been victimised or it's a feminist issue when you've been a piss-taker from the start.

I actually respect you admitting it.

Never denied that I planned it. Why else would I go for the interview if I didn’t intend to get the role?

Green eyed monster comes to mind.

She doesn’t like that I’ll be getting money for not working, as she’s stated repeatedly. She’s weirdly obsessed with the concept

"If she had declared at interview and not been offered it, for whatever reason, the company would have noted her honesty and integrity"

Give over. No, they wouldn't. A business that didn't appoint because she was pregnant would have gone, "phew, what a lucky escape" and carried on discriminating.