Do I or don't I disclose that I'm pregnant?

[loie]

I have no idea what to do!

15+3 weeks already. Desperately looking to change from a cleaning role into an office based 9-5 job.

I'm going through recruitment agencies. Do I tell them I'm pregnant? Will they advise not to tell an interviewer yet? Or do I just tell them?

Nope! You're not obliged and it's illegal for them to ask you.

@SolsticeBabyMaybe I didn't tell my current job that I was pregnant until 14.5 weeks when I was hired at 11 weeks and they were really unhappy I hadn't disclosed it earlier.

Tough. Don't tell!

I know you dont need to tell them but I cant imagine them being very happy that in a few months you will be off.

Are you in a job now? Would you get maternity leave if you stayed? Changing jobs while pregnant can be very financially detrimental.

You may not have to tell them, but I can't imagine them being very pleased with you when you do announce it. Why not just stay where you are and apply for new jobs when you are ready to return to work?

You wont be able to hide it for much longer and when it is visible you very well may receive indrect discrimination

Plus, if you are employed under 2 years, you can be dismissed for no good reason.

Have you only been in your current role for 4 and a half weeks? Are they temp roles? If they are temporary I’d not say anything and not worry to much. If permanent I’d question why you were moving on so soon.

Do you mean you’ve been in this job less than a week and are already looking for something different?

Legally you don’t have to tell but realistically you won’t be able to keep it a secret much longer.

Apols I misread - you told them a week ago but have been employed for almost 5 weeks.

I think you are being a bit unreasonable not to tell them. I know that you don't have to but just because you are not obliged to tell them doesn't always mean it is a good idea to keep it from them. There are things that the employer will need to do when they know a staff member is pregnant such as a risk assessment. If you are doing a cleaning role just now and did not disclose that you were until you had been in the job several weeks I can see why they may be unhappy. You may have put yourself at risk while at work if you are using chemicals, doing heavy lifting etc.
Where I work we employ people on short term temporary contracts to cover specific busy periods. A staff member coming to us pregnant is a regular occurrence. If a staff member is pregnant it is best that we as managers know so that any reasonable adjustments can be made and risk assessment done etc.
As others have said it may not be best for you to change jobs this far on in your pregnancy as it could have an impact on what maternity pay you may be due.

Rainbowunicorn - What you’re saying is true once already employed but it’s not necessary at interview. Pregnancy is a protected characteristic, such as being black, a woman, disabled etc. They cannot discriminate but that’s not how the real world works.

I went for an interview and about 2 weeks after I accepted the job I found out I was pregnant. The CRB process took a good while so by the time I started it was almost 3 months after interview date and I had to immediately ask for pregnancy uniform. I did have problems with the manager but a quick visit from HR put her in her place.

I didn't disclose I was pregnant, went to the interview, got the job, told them afterwards and they were totally fine about it , I'm still there and love it! Best thing I ever did! All the other jobs I interviewed I told them I was pregnant and was rejected, not sure if it was a coincidence but I was a bit

I'd only tell them if I needed a risk assessment/adjustments to my role. I didn't tell my bosses until 20 weeks as I was worried about my job being in jepordy having been there less than 2 years.

Wait is this the poster that wanted to call in sick to her new cleaning job?

@MidniteScribbler - think so

A lady at our work did that. Took a job at 14 weeks pregnant and let them know three weeks later. Pretty poor in my opinion. And I know she got a bad rep at work for doing it. Just not trustworthy.

It's perfectly legal however check your entitlement to SMP in either role.

If you tell them you won't get hired.

Unfortunately you won’t be hired if you let on, don’t tell them until you’ve been hired.
I wouldn’t hide it for weeks, maybe a few days to a week after you start your new role.
They can’t fire you for being pregnant but they absolutely can just hire someone else and just claim they performed better at interview/had more experience etc whether it’s true or not... I’m a recruitment consultant, sadly we would quietly advise against letting on about a pregnancy if you can avoid it until you’ve officially landed and started the job

Very tough one . It’s the curse of being a woman frankly
But starting a role pregnant sadly is going to set things off badly . It’s unfair and shit but it’s the way it is

You’ve been in this job about a month?

I was offered my dream job at an excellent company the day I found out I was pregnant- ended up telling the lady who offered on the phone (before I had even told my husband).

They were very kind- and persuaded me to take it as I wasn't going to and I did- I've just finished for mat leave after 6 months, baby due next week.

However, agree with pp, I do not qualify for mat pay or stat pay, and still waiting for DWP to get back to us regarding Maternity Allowance! So just be aware of the financial side of things!