Pregnancy, redundancy, and new job

[coffeelover123987]

NC'd as this is outing

I'm in the consultation period for redundancy in my current role. It will certainly happen, they are just following the process at this stage.
I'm also pregnant, due next March.

My dilemma is, do I apply for jobs now, or wait until after maternity?

If I apply now, I know I don't need to disclose the pregnancy... but at the same time, it wouldn't feel right to do this.
There are a lot of opportunities around at the minute in my field, and I'm worried that if I leave it until after mat leave, that there will be slim pickings.

Any advice wise mumsnetters?

I'd apply now.

I was made redundant when I was 10/11 weeks pregnant. I started a new job at 13/14 weeks. Didn't tell the new company till after I started. I needed a new job, didn't have a choice to wait it out.

@ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts how did they respond when you told them?

Anyone else?

I’m in the same position, we’re fortunate enough that I don’t have to go back to work just yet, things will be tight but I also don’t feel right starting a job and then leaving in 8 months.

Could you afford to look after maternity leave? Or take a shorter maternity leave?

It's really up to you. I got made redundant when I was 8 months pregnant so didn't apply for anything else at that stage and I actually enjoyed my maternity leave knowing that I didn't have a set date to go back to work and knowing I could take longer off work if I wanted. But then we would have been ok financially if I hadn't found another job for a while. In the end, I was ready to go back to work after about a year and got a temporary role for a few months through word of mouth, and then got a permanent job a few months later, so I was lucky that things worked out well for me.

In my current job there was a girl who started when she was heavily pregnant and was only there a few weeks before going on mat leave. I guess some people will always raise an eyebrow about it, but if it's a job you want and you've got an opportunity to get in while you're pregnant then there's no reason you shouldn't go for it.

Some other pros and cons
If I stay with my current employer until the end of the year, I'll benefit from mat pay from then.
The redundancy package is also good as I've been there for a long time.

Cons are if I take an extended break from the workplace, I'm worried this will damage any future career opportunities

@coffeelover123987 when would you be made redundant if it's going ahead? I was assuming it would be in the next month or two? Are you sure you'd get both mat pay and a redundancy package? If you're due to get a decent redundancy package then I would take it, although obviously I don't know your specific circumstances. If you leave before you're made redundant then you wouldn't be entitled to it obviously.

So we will get confirmation next week of what's happening and will stop working on November 1st. Then on gardening leave until 31st December.
My manager and I have both checked with HR, and providing I start my mat leave on 30th December, I'll be entitled to the mat pay package (5 months full pay)
So I wouldn't get my redundancy until mat leave is over.

I could take a new job and start after 1st November, but I'd loose out on the mat pay with current employer and employment would end there, with redundancy

I would take the mat pay and job hunt once your redundancy pay finishes. You won’t get such a generous package with a new employer when you’ve hardly worked there any time.

In your scenario the mat pay plus redundancy sounds like the better option financially. If you start a new job and you're not there long enough to qualify for their full maternity package you could find yourself a lot worse off.

You will need to claim maternity allowance with a new employer. How much is 5 months full pay offset against that?

MA is £151.20 a week or 90% of your wage.

Apply now and keep sctum about the baby.

I was made redundant at 8 weeks pregnant, by the time I was getting anywhere with recruitment I was 14 weeks and, like you, thought I should disclose it to recruitment agencies. Everything went cold and I ended up temping.

I work with someone who wasn't pregnant at interview but was by the time their start date came! Yes the recruiting manager was a bit miffed but nothing he could do about it and she proved she was bloody good at her job.

I'd 100% take the maternity pay - it gives you a 5 month buffer then to find work and it's going to be a hell of a lot easier when you aren't pregnant. Also your maternity pay out May also give you a few extra months too. Also you would most likely not be entitled to anywhere near as generous a maternity leave package at a new employer (most state you have to have worked there a certain length of time first to get enhanced maternity pay)

Just seen your update. Does that mean you couldn't start with a new employer until 1 Jan? And would be going on mat leave some time in Feb?

As I don't think any employer recruiting now would want to wait until Jan for you to start. In which case, I'd go for mat leave and enter the job market early 2022 when hopefully the worst of Covid and Brexit will have passed.

MA is £151.20 a week or 90% of your wage.

It's only 90% for 6 weeks......

@ivfbeenbusy

MA is £151.20 a week or 90% of your wage.

It's only 90% for 6 weeks......

Not for maternity allowance there is no 6 week enhancement. It is the same for 39 weeks but I should have said it is whatever is the lowest of the two. Kind of important bit I missed off the end there.

I was in the same situation as @ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts. My work we’re fine (may have been annoyed behind my back, but gave me what I was entitled to), they didn’t need to pay me maternity (SMA), I think they day I left for maternity was my 6 month probation review :). I went back after maternity and worked for them for about another 2 years.

I know they legally can’t discriminate against pregnancy, but I wouldn’t tell a prospective employer I was pregnant. How do you ever truly know if they don’t employ you, that it wasn’t down to pregnancy?

@fatgirlslimmer

Phew!! Was thinking I was being totally short changed by my employer there 🤣

Apply now. Who knows what’s going to happen with job market.

[quote ivfbeenbusy]@fatgirlslimmer

Phew!! Was thinking I was being totally short changed by my employer there 🤣[/quote]
Sorry, I’m always reading half cocked advice on here, and then I wrote ... half cocked advice

If I was in your shoes, the option of staying with your employer and getting maternity pay and redundancy pay seem like a better option. For most jobs that I know of, you always have to claim maternity allowance if you were pregnant before starting the job and it’s the lowest of 151.20 a week or 90% of your wage. At least you’ll know you’ll be sorted for sometime and you can start looking for a job next year.
I don’t think being off for maternity leave for those months will really affect your career prospects.

I am on maternity leave now. I was planning to review coming back in October, but the working market is tough right now, and I just can't face doing that with a teething 7 month old. I would personally take the extended maternity leave option, and focus on having a good experience of your pregnancy and delivery. It would be very hard to pass probation well if you are further down in your pregnancy. You'll never know what the jobs market will be like when you return, plus you may decide to alter your hours/focus with a bit of time out.

Thanks everyone.
Most of you are recommending the job hunt after mat leave option.

@WotsitWiggle I can start with a new employer from 1st November, but won't get the mat pay package from current employer, as that is when employment would end. I'd be paid my garden leave as a lump sum.
If I take the mat leave option then I'll technically still be employed until 31st December so as long as I start mat on 30th December, I'll get the 5 months full mat pay plus redundancy package when that ends.

I guess my biggest fear is the job market going to shit by 2022, but who knows what's going to happen??

There is one job I've seen that I really love the sound of and could do really well in. I'm thinking of reaching out to them to express my interest for down the line... can't do any harm, right?

My head hurts thinking about this... it's constantly whirling through my mind

@coffeelover123987 work have been brilliant. Very supportive. I've just returned from mat leave.

I felt bad starting the job and was nervous. I had people on my training course leave within a few months of starting.