To not tell them I'm on maternity leave?

[WhatEverItIsIDidntDoIt]

I have an interview next week that will boost my career to level I have been dreaming about for years, BUT I am currently on mat leave not due back for another 8 weeks.

Do I tell my potential employer or do you think this will make me a less desirable candidate?

I know we are meant to be in an age of equal rights but part of me thinks I should keep sthum until I have a foot in the door!

I wouldn't tell them, just tell them what notice you have to give at your current job.

Interesting - I was having this very conversation with a work colleague who is pg and who was concluding that if she were interviewing now, she would not let on. YANBU.

Thanks jareth, out of curiosity would you not say anything for the same reason I am thinking?

Revolting, I am so glad it is not only me! I interviewed for a similar role whilst heavily pregnant and ll they asked me about was my impending arrival! Needless to say I didn't get the job!

I think it depends on what your current notice period is and whether you are willing to go back off mat leave early

of course you could always tell them you have a holiday booked to delay a potential start date

Why would you need to tell them? If you don't think you want to go back to work before 8 weeks, then just say you have a 2 month notice period. However, don't lie, it might be mentioned on your reference.

all not ll

Dontmind, can they really mention my mat leave on my reference? Never heard of that before!

They probably shouldn't, but once they have, it's too late.

If they ask you about notice just say 'I think in my current circs I would need to give 8 weeks'. It's not a lie, and it doesn't mention ML.

They probably wouldn't in a written reference, but if it's a verbal one (most we seem to take are over the phone) then it's easy to slip into conversation like "so how many people report into her?" "Well, she had 3 direct reports when she went off on maternity leave." or "How many projects is she working on normally?" "well, just before she went off on maternity leave it was just X number as she was handing everything over, but before that it had normally been Y amount." They don't need to say it deliberately, it can be quite innocent.

Are you getting enhanced mat pay from your current employer? We have to pay it back if we leave before a certain period has passed. Just sometging to think about.

I wouldn't say anything because it's largely irrelevant, isn't it? You'll still have to give the same notice to your employer so you can leave, and tbh it's none of their business

Jinsei is right though - if you've had enhanced mat pay then it's likely you'll have to pay it back to your employer if you don't go back after mat leave.

I think you will need to be properly resigned and 'worked' your notice period before you start at a new job though. Also, isn't it 8 weeks when you have to let your current employer know about your return to work plans? Have you done that yet?

Jinsei, I'm on the bod standard amount no extras from my company!

Jareth, I have agreed a return date. I thought I could just pop in my notice 4 weeks before and it would be an issue? Am I wrong?