To accept a promotion when a tiny bit pregnant?

[princessconsuelobananahammock]

That's it really. Very slightly pregnant. Had a MMC in the summer hols last year, headteacher doesn't know. Been verbally offered a more senior role from sept. Just blustered through the conversation today but I feel bad. I'll know in June if all looks ok so I guess I'll tell him then. Can he rescind the offer? Should I tell him now & then he can plan for me not being there? It's just so early :( I think he'll be really cross that I've agreed to the job whilst knowingly pregnant. Any thoughts?

You don't need to tell your employer of your pregnancy until 25 weeks. That's likely to be the 2nd week of September for you. You'll only be 16/17 weeks at the end of term, so still quite small. I'd agree to try and get some sort of formal acknowledgement of the offer...an email discussing plans for September would be ideal.

Ditto Lurcio I was promoted when I was pregnant.

OP If this was a short-term project, with or without more pay, and you knew you would not be seeing it through, I would see your problem - I don't think anyone should do that, whatever the reason for not seeing the task through, male or female.

But this is a permanent promotion and if you are right for it now you'll be right when you get back.

Please, please take it and don't feel the least bit guilty.

Assuming you are planning on returning to the job,I think the head will just have to understand and accept: I was promoted while in early pregnancy, but as a manager myself still wouldn't be overjoyed if someone I'd just promoted/employed went on mat leave straight away. It causes staffing headaches and extra work for me. Tough shit though, it's not the pregnant women's problem that mat cover is hard to get, especially at more senior levels and if they are good I want them to return to the job - promotions are great incentives for that.

Well done, enjoy the extra money :)

Get it in writing now!

Take it, and well done!

If you plan on going back to work after ml, take it. You will only be pg and on ml for a short part of your career. Why pass up the opportunity to progress?

Another, more significant point is that no man would think twice. If a man knew he was lining up (say) surgery with a 6 month recovery period, he would make sure he took the promotion to get better sick pay!

Congratulations. Don't do yourself down by being an eejit about this

Indeed he would Sushi and he'd be right and so would the OP to take the promotion.

OP If you take and find the HT is full of congratulations and not an arse about it please come and cheer us all up by telling us.

Thanks all. You've made me feel much better. The point about someone having surgery is a good one! I'd love to think that he'll be full of congratulations, but I'm pretty sure he won't! I will be going back, probably in time for the new academic year in Sept. Another decision that I'll be making because it's better for the school (i.e. the kids) but I'd rather wait a few more weeks. I dont want my classes messed around, it's not good for anyone. Really appreciate all the replies :)

YANBU - please take it.

Take it!

Congratulations x2 op, really nice things are happening for you and you deserve it!

I can see why you are worried but don't let anyone drag you down over this. Your were offered the job because you can do the job, so take it!

And don't make any promises to them about when you will be coming back from maternity either, just say you haven't decided how long you are taking off yet. I was offered a really job project (I'm a freelance illustrator) just before I started mat leave but it meant I would have to start working again when my baby was 12 weeks. Stupidly I agreed to it. By the end of the first week with baby dd I told them I didn't want to take it on. She's 6 months now and I'm still on mat leave.

Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy this time round

Take it

You are perfectly within your rights.

Congratulations on your good news.
Is this a formal offer, without job application or interview?
Do you have to make a formal acceptance? You need to think clearly first.
How essential to the running of the school is this job? Would someone else have to take it over when you are on leave?
You need to consider:
will you be able to deal with extra responsibility while pregnant;
how much maternity leave you will be taking;
will you return to full-time or part time work after the birth, and will you be able to cope with the extra responsibility in the time you work?
You should also consider the impact on colleagues and the school if you intend to do this job part-time. Working with senior colleagues who are only present part-time is difficult.
It would be fair to tell your Head as soon as possible; he has to make long-term decisions affecting other people as well as you.

I'm shocked you would even consider turning it down.

I accepted a promotion at work at seven months pregnant.

Take it. They can't discriminate against you for being pregnant.

If you want to think of it as doing your bit for women everywhere, I.e. not letting discriminatory attitudes prevail, will that help? Don't feel guilty. Women so often feel guilty when there is no need.

This happened to me, and I told them straight away. They were fine about it (obviously) and I felt a lot better for being honest that I had told them. Tell them, they won't take the offer away, and you will feel relieved

When I told my boss I was pg she told me about a promotion coming up and encouraged me to go for it! Think partly because it is part time and closer to home so she was thinking it would work better for me as a mum. But I was shocked that she would still consider me a decent candidate, for some reason I thought I would get written off as 'not committed'. Couldn't be further from the truth and I feel very lucky.

I'm an employer of several women of child bearing age. I would expect you to take the job and I wouldn't expect you either to disclose the pregnancy, or think worse of you when you disclosed it in September. You earned it - if you want it, take it!

Take it! And there is no need to tell them yet, it puts them in a difficult position (an HR manager friend told me this when I was in a similar situation).

If you did what I did ( 2 weeks of annual leave to have a baby in and then back full time) your problem is solved! Having a baby does not mean you have to take months and months off - something most people cannot afford anyway as they only get 6 weeks at 90% pay and have mortgages to pay

Were there any witnesses to the conversation?

I was in a similar position & didnt mind letting that one person know about the pregnancy.

I basically said by email - further to our conversation about my taking up x role. I really am excited about and want to accept the promotion but feel i must let you know i am x weeks pregnant and feel better being honest with you about this. I have every intention to work full time after mat leave and would love to do the role.
Please note its very early in the pregnancy so i dont want it to be made public.

That way i was honest, my manager appreciated 'my honesty" but i knew legally he could not rescind the offer as you're protected by the law!

Honest yet Sneaky!

Having said that i do work in a civil service type organisation where workers rights are very much respected particularly pregnant women!

Accept it.

A man would.

This!!!

I agree too, take the promotion!

Goblin, all those things would be true if OP had received the promotion six months ago.

Please don't take them to heart, OP.

Laura, I think I can guess who you are, given your stock answer. Bear in mind, your way doesn't work for everyone and that people in education, amongst other professions, get set leave and can't just have two weeks off whenever.