Should I accept a new job knowing Im pregnant?

[BrandySnaps1]

Ive been offered a new full time role. Im currently doing temp work as and when after taking a career break which is leaving us short on money every month. Ive hardly earnt anything since the beginning of this year

Im 6 weeks pregnant and dont know whether to accept the job or when i need to legally tell them. i know most companies dont even offer maternity if you havent been there for a year.

Money wise I would defintely take it , but not sure how i will feel during the next few months

I have a thing about letting people down and feeling bad, but trying to change that because surely having a baby shouldnt be a disapointment? It might inconvenience the employer for a bit as they have to find cover, but surely i shouldnt be blamed for that

You shouldn't. Every recruiter knows a woman of childbearing age may become pregnant.

If you want to be honest, tell her at the earliest reasonable point you can. I suggest after your 12 week scan and after you have told friends and family.

You can be honest and apologetic if you like and tell her you feel bad about taking the job and getting pregnant immediately and you would have been hesitant had you known. You will be very happy to discuss the easiest way to get your worked covered/train cover in good time for mat leave etc etc. Be as helpful as you can and understand the inconvenience (even though you are well within your rights). You might find they are perfectly happy for you which is a really good sign for the future of the job.

Honestly? I was a SAHM for many years before- no-one helped me when pregnant and raising my babies. And after all the sacrifices, I was ready to start my own career. My DH didn't work 'for a firm' - and there was no flexibility possible beyond what we had been able to put in place so I could return to work. But anyhow, why should his 'firm' have to 'pay' for the cover for someone who is not their employee?

I took a job when I was in the early stages of my first pregnancy. I felt slightly guilty but I needed the job as I was on a short term contract which was ending. I went on to work for that organisation for 20 years and was a very loyal and competent employee. I thInk overall they were glad I took the job despite the pregnancy.

OP, if you want the job, take it.

Of course you should take it, why wouldn't you ? The whole existence of humanity is reliant on women getting pregnant and populating the earth. Why would you feel bad about it?

I'm confused. You ask a question then vilify anyone who says no and make it clear you've already made up your mind. Even if you tell them now and you have the offer in writing, they can't rescind it so not sure what you're trying to achieve. You don't have to formally inform your employer until 15 weeks before due date. You'll get SMP even if you don't qualify for enhanced mat leave if the company has such a policy. If you're off sick due to the pregnancy it can't be held against you. Yes it may be inconvenient for the new employer but you are well protected.

This poster is incorrect, you will not get SMP.

In order to get SMP you must have worked for the employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the “qualifying week” which is 15 weeks before your due date. So you won’t be entitled to any kind of pay like that. All you may be entitled to is Maternity Allowance which is less than SMP I believe.

I think it totally depends on the individual, personally if I was in this situation I would be open and honest about it before accepting purely because I would feel guilty keeping it from them, when they are asking about family etc and ease to travel, for me it would be obvious to mention then that I’m pregnant as that will affect your ability and willingness to travel. Also, don’t underestimate pregnancy. Travelling for a couple days in the office each month in a hotel could be really hard depending on the kind of pregnancy you have, I’m currently 7 months pregnant and even now wouldn’t be comfortable travelling and staying overnight anywhere.

I suppose the better question is

if i sign the contract and tell them early on say 13 or 14 weeks pregnant, can they take the offer away from me or if i start and tell them shortly after (still in probation time) can they terminate my contract? i dont mind to tell them but i dont want the offer taken away as i really need the money

Pregnancy is a protected characteristic, so if they withdrew their offer or terminated your employment on that basis, you would have grounds to take them to industrial tribunal for pregnancy discrimination. HR woman should know that!

Take it.

You owe them absolutely nothing and your child everything.

Why should i reject a job for the next 9 months when i am perfectly fit to work?

Because it is not a nine-months job. Because you know they will have to do the same runaround to find a suitable replacement, because you know not having children to work around is important for your job description - made clear to you by this woman who interviewed you - and you know deep down you are doing them a dirty by neglecting to mention you are currently pregnant.

You know all of this, and yet having asked for opinions are clapping back at posters saying, yes, you are being unfair (and dishonest).

She did mention a conference in sept which is when im due.

I mean, this alone. Seriously.

I mean on a larger scale sure we are just numbers but day to day these decisions have knock on effects for real life people who are usually also just numbers to the company causing them potential stress and difficulty.

I'm not advocating for you to take a decision either way but I do feel like talking about the company as a whole attempts to negate the actual people your choices make

OP it's illegal to ask about your home situation. Your employer has already shown themselves to be well, not supportive. And somewhat ignorant of the law.
They can't take your offer away . But they can make you fail probation. Invent all sorts of excuses for it that would be difficult to disprove.
Even if you took them to tribunal for pregnancy discrimination and won, that still leaves you jobless.
If it'll be easy for you to find something else anyway why not do it now?
Btw you haven't been earning since the 'start of this year'.. it's only February! Recruitment tends to pick up between March - May.
It's up to you whether you want to risk taking this job or hold out for a better employer.

Personally I don't think people should let pregnancy hold them back. You could get pregnant just after starting, a couple of months in etc.. this is biology. It's impossible to time.

But, i do think you need to consider the risks of working for an employer that's already made it clear that children will be a problem.

You seem very certain in your opinions, so not sure what the point of your asking is about? All I'd say is I got to 7 weeks pregnant and then got signed off sick until 24 weeks. I had been at the company years, but the staff became very hostile towards me so I left.

You have no idea how you will be health wise.

Personally I wouldn't take it. I don't think it's very good to go into a with an attitude of 'I owe them nothing' . Plus the job involves travel. Are you going to want that further in the pregnancy? You have no idea how you will feel in 6 months time. I can't think of anything worse than 2 h of travel to get to the office.

Stay where you are. Get paid leave then look for something new later. Apart from the money you don't say this is your 'dream job' or anything.

Just thinking ahead- if you do like the job- would you be happy to travel when back from maternity? You'd have 2 days a week away from baby and any potential travel for business?

I'd go for it but I would be honest and upfront. And they have a duty of care- so you may be able to work from home as a reasonable adjustment especially if you have issues in the pregnancy before 12 weeks?

Just be mindful that you will need regular time off for booking appt, midwife appt, scans etc! My boss was one of the first people I told so he was in the loop about why I would suddenly need this time off. You also are entitled to be paid for all antenatal appointments. Also whilst you say right now you can be flexible and travel etc some pregnancies require monitoring and appointments weekly.

Our company which is very small would be stuffed if we offered you a role and in a couple of months you announced you were expecting. Also they have told you there is an expectation you would need to travel at short notice both during the pregnancy and afterwards.

Are you sure you will be able to do this?

The big issue for me would be staying away a night a week on your return to work, if you prove to be great they may be flexible. I’d go for it in your situation and think anything more than 7 months as a bonus.

I would take the job - at six weeks you could easily not know you are pregnant. You need the money and you need to protect yourself.

I'm on this side of the fence.

Legally fine, entitled to yes... but really, the more this happens, the more employers (both male AND female) are going to look at women and think 'why risk it'???

For those larger companies, sure, no biggie... but for those startups with very little cash, to go in and cripple them with no potential return, it's more of a moral issue for me.

It would be my question too. Will you have a probation period? And if you tell them / it becomes known during probation period how it affects your chances? I would consider this.
6 weeks is very early to tell anyone. I wouldn’t be too emotional about her “coming back to you” the candidates who were before you probably just refused, that’s it, whatever she was saying.
You not having children neither here nor there - any woman of certain age can have them any time.

As someone said above, we were a small team and we were DESPERATE for a role to be filled, we were on our knees. New member started, hooray! Then next day announced she was 16 weeks pregnant. She sat in the office talking about herself and her unborn baby whole time over next few weeks over why she couldn't do this that and the other. She barely lifted a finger and said she was just holding out to maternity leave and pay she was entitled to.

I know that's probably an extreme example, but her attitude upset a lot of people.