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Original poster

Do I have to tell in job interview I'm currently on maternity leave?

61 replies

Iworry2021 · 10/04/2021 07:58

Hi everyone,

So I'm currently on maternity leave, due to come back in August.

I want to leave my company and didn't put on my CV that I'm currently on maternity leave, as I read online, that you don't have to point out on your CV that you were on maternity leave.

Yesterday I had an interview that went really well and I might progress to the next stage if I'm lucky.

I didn't mention to the HR lady that I'm currently on maternity leave as it wasn't on my CV either.

I have serious doubts today if I did the right thing and if is can work against me if they find out.

Can anyone give some advice? x

I'd like to add that my old company put my job at risk as well, so I most likely will lose my job and I really need a new job otherwise we might face a financial disaster. I just didn't want to mention that I was on maternity leave in case there was conscious or subconscious discrimination against that (e.g. "oh, she has been out of work for almost a year", "oh, she has a small child,how will she cope?")

OP posts:
accentdusoleil · 10/04/2021 08:00

did they ask about notice period or anything like that ? That would be when I mention it

Original poster
Iworry2021 · 10/04/2021 08:03

They asked me about notice period and I said 1 month ( which is true, despite me being on maternity leave). Unfortunately she asked me that at the end of the interview and it would have been weird to mention that I was on maternity leave at that stage. 😕

OP posts:
Sunshinebunshine · 10/04/2021 08:05

No you don't need to mention it. But if you said 1 month notice, are you ready to go back from maternity then? When I was in that situation I had 3 months left so I said I had 3 months notice.

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Kitkatchunkyplease · 10/04/2021 08:06

I don't see why this matters at all.

CoffeeandCakeEqualsLove · 10/04/2021 08:06

I got a new job while on maternity leave and was upfront at the start - I was on mat leave and it made me reassess my current job and was therefore looking for something new/closer to home. No one had any issues with it.

Would you actually be able to start this new job in a month's time? Or when are you looking to return to work?

PotteringAlong · 10/04/2021 08:08

I think it only matters in terms of when you’re going back - if you don’t want to go back to work for another 3 months you need to tell them. If you can start work for them in 1 month then you’re ok

Frazzled2207 · 10/04/2021 08:09

If you’re willing to start a job in a month then I wouldn’t worry too much
If you’re basically not able to start till august then you do need to tell them

Lockdownbear · 10/04/2021 08:10

If you are prepared to start sooner than August I wouldn't say anything.

If you want your Mat leave it could cost you the job, they might not want to wait until August for you to start.

Moondust001 · 10/04/2021 08:12

@Frazzled2207

If you’re willing to start a job in a month then I wouldn’t worry too much If you’re basically not able to start till august then you do need to tell them
I think I would agree with this. There is no right or wrong answer, unfortunately - you don't need to tell them, but if you don't intend to start in a month (if offered the job) then that may not be an option for them.
PurBal · 10/04/2021 08:13

@Sunshinebunshine

No you don't need to mention it. But if you said 1 month notice, are you ready to go back from maternity then? When I was in that situation I had 3 months left so I said I had 3 months notice.
This.
HeartsAndClubs · 10/04/2021 08:13

Depends on When you want to go back. You’ve told them you need to give a month’s notice, which essentially means you’re prepared to start work in May. Are you?

MoveOnTheCards · 10/04/2021 08:14

I interviewed on maternity leave too and was up-front about it and explained when I would be able to start (later than the usual notice period).

The only issue you might have is if they expect you to start a month after accepting an offer based on what you have told them. If you turn around now and say “actually I’m staying in mat leave until August” how would that work for them?

Could/would you be prepared to start in a month?

KarmaNoMore · 10/04/2021 08:14

I wouldn’t worry until they offer (if they do), I know two women who were heavily pregnant at interview, they still got the jobs and the employers found someone to cover their maternity leaves. You cannot be discriminated as a mother (openly) but if they offer and then you say that your notice period is one month but you are actually not coming back in 7, it could be seen as if you lied about your availability and therefore they can withdraw their offer.

Personally, if I loved the job and it would provide me with a better work-home balance than the old one, I would end the maternity leave earlier.

MichelleScarn · 10/04/2021 08:18

Will you have to pay any of your mat pay back to current company if you don't go back for a specified amount of time, or could you lose out on redundancy pay?

happytoday73 · 10/04/2021 08:19

Agree with PP... Absolutely no reason to tell them... But you've set yourself up with your notice comment to start back at work mid may/June at latest if offered this job. Do you have childcare for then?

Original poster
Iworry2021 · 10/04/2021 08:19

I'm ready to start work in a month's time. My baby is currently 8 months old and I would have family support for the first few months and then I would put him in nursery when he's 1 year old.

My worry is if they see on my P60 that I received maternity pay they will think I was untruthful and terminate my employment.

I can understand why some posters mentioned straight away in the interview they were on maternity leave and honesty is probably the best policy, but I was just worried that me being on a maternity leave and a mother of a very young child could count against me.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 10/04/2021 08:20

I think it’s less about telling them and more about are you ready to go back in a month if you are offered the job? And cut your maternity short?

And are you aware of the financial implications if you’ve received enhanced maternity, in not returning?

jelly79 · 10/04/2021 08:23

If you are ready to go back in a month OP then you have nothing to worry about.
When they make you an offer I would then state, that you are ok maternity leave now, you will hand in your resignation and you will be ready to start on x date.

Good luck with the offer x

Original poster
Iworry2021 · 10/04/2021 08:25

@Bluntness100

My company put my job at risk as well, so I don't think I could return, even if I wanted to.

I haven't had my redundancy meetings yet.

It's all a very sticky situation.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 10/04/2021 08:26

@Iworry2021

I'm ready to start work in a month's time. My baby is currently 8 months old and I would have family support for the first few months and then I would put him in nursery when he's 1 year old.

My worry is if they see on my P60 that I received maternity pay they will think I was untruthful and terminate my employment.

I can understand why some posters mentioned straight away in the interview they were on maternity leave and honesty is probably the best policy, but I was just worried that me being on a maternity leave and a mother of a very young child could count against me.

But it won't matter to them

What's the difference if you're on maternity leave or at your desk?

They'll only care that you can start in a month and you can so no bother.

Btw have you checked your maternity pay - is it statutory or enhanced? If enhanced some companies will want you to pay it back if you don't return after mat leave.

Bluntness100 · 10/04/2021 08:37

I don’t think you need to be concerned, if it comes up just shrug it off and say you didn’t think it was relevant.

But you’ve not actually been made redundant so you need to understand if you need to pay back any money if you resign.

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 10/04/2021 08:38

I wouldn’t worry too much. As long as you have sufficient experience - not having worked in the job 1 month and claiming 12 by adding on maternity leave.
And you’re willing to give one months notice.
But as bluntness says if you’ve had enhanced maternity pay you’ll need to check your current employers policy as you may be required to pay it back. Not sure you’re job being put at risk will affect this as you’ve not been made redundant.

SGChome20 · 10/04/2021 08:39

Agree with pp, if you’ve had anything more than stat pay you’ll prob need to return to your current job for a period of time to avoid having to pay money back. This is definitely worth checking. You won’t get redundancy pay if you just leave either.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 10/04/2021 08:40

I work in recruitment. I think this is fine as long as you are prepared to start work in one month and you are. I read CVS all day every day and no one ever differentiates between time actually at work or on may leave. It makes no difference at all. As for your current employer.. unless you actually want to hold out to be made redundant because of a pay out then I think that's a clean break too isn't it?
Are you 100% sure your job won't be there for you to go back to? Companies are normally v reluctant to make people redundant whilst they are on mat leave in case it looks discriminatory.

I know that's not the main point here. It all looks pretty simple and straightforward to me. Nothing to worry about. Good luck for the 2nd interview.

nicknamehelp · 10/04/2021 08:43

P45 will not split out maternity pay only totals of what you've been paid. They might wonder why a low amount but if a big company doubt will notice.