Applying for a new job while pregnant

Traveller3367 · 2021-09-16T19:11:15+00:00

7 months pregnant Saw a job that I thought I would be good at Applied without mentioning I was pregnant Been offered the role and have informed employer I am pregnant and due to go on mat leave soon They will see if they can get cover but I have offered to decline the position if they cannot. My question is was I being unreasonable in applying in the first place? (Ps I wasn't hiding my pregnancy. I didn't know when was best to mention it. Didn't want employer to think I was using it against them if they declined me. Also I valued the chance to network and get some interview practice. Was not expecting to get the role as a big jump for me career wise)

Porridgealert · 16/09/2021 20:18

Leaving aside all the legal issues....

A woman applied for a role where I used to work and after getting the job told them she was pregnant. Mgt was obviously fed up because then they had to arrange cover for her, more or less as soon as she was starting. But...she turned out be a great and much respected colleague who was fantastic at her job. She went on to have two more children and is still there.

The truth is it would be more convenient for them to get someone else but you got the job fairly because they thought you'd be best for the job. And when you return from maternity leave you will do a good job for them, won't you? So why give it up?

Congratulations.

Mantlemoose · 16/09/2021 20:19

Why would you waste anyones time by doing this? Don't offer to decline if they can't get anyone else. Just do the right thing and decline. I'm pretty sure I'll be in the minority but IMO its silliness like this that makes a mockery of woman's rights.

Porridgealert · 16/09/2021 20:20

^To add. You were hiding your pregnancy, though. So be honest about that. Easy enough to tell them before or during the interview. But you've done nothing wrong in not telling them.

burritofan · 16/09/2021 20:21

Of course you weren’t being U! Would a man with a heavily pregnant partner not apply for jobs? We’ve just employed three new starters; two more than six months pregnant. Best people for the jobs, which are permanent positions – we’d rather have them in the role forever, but taking maternity leave soon, than choose second-best candidates.

Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:27

@Mantlemoose I don't think I wasted anyone's times. It's a huge organisation and part of my motivation was to network and be familiar with management and they with me so I am in better stead for future positions
Can I ask how you think it makes a mockery of women's rights?

My thinking in applying was that I wouldn't advise a pregnant woman not to apply for a role because of her pregnancy and therefore I took my own advice and applied

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Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:29

@Porridgealert
I absolutely was not hiding the pregnancy
The interview was on zoom
The application was by cv and I didn't think it right to stamp my CV with pregnant as I wouldn't do that with any other medical condition.
Also I was sure one of the panel members knew of my pregnancy due to being in the same social media mums group

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Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:31

I told them as soon as they offered me the role! They didn't even get to tell me finer details as I just blurted it out before formally accepting the role (which I haven't done yet)

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MyPatronusIsACat · 16/09/2021 20:33

@burritofan

Of course you weren’t being U! Would a man with a heavily pregnant partner not apply for jobs? We’ve just employed three new starters; two more than six months pregnant. Best people for the jobs, which are permanent positions – we’d rather have them in the role forever, but taking maternity leave soon, than choose second-best candidates.

Really?

And as for this...

Would a man with a heavily pregnant partner not apply for jobs?

I can't believe what I just read! What an utterly ludicrous analogy!

@Traveller3367 Of COURSE YABU. I can't believe you would even have to ask! Why would you apply for a job whilst 7 months pregnant?

No way I would take you on.

Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:33

Thanks for the supportive messages
I hope it's this kind of support I would offer to others in my position
Unfortunately when it happens the guilt is overwhelming

As far as being accused of making a mockery of women's rights, I completely disagree. I think it's the opposite. I would not advise a pregnant person to not apply for a role due to their pregnancy. And I want to work in an inclusive environment so I was trying to lead by example.

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CrushedPistachios · 16/09/2021 20:33

Did the job advert/interview have a proposed start date for the role? Will you be able to make the start date? What are your plans for maternity leave?

MadeOfStarStuff · 16/09/2021 20:36

It’s a massive waste of time because they’ve gone through the recruitment process because they need someone to start ASAP. Now they have to recruit again for a secondment or temp while you take up to a year off and maybe want to return part time or even not at all.

Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:37

@MyPatronusIsACat
Wow I'm glad I don't work for you
This is actually the second position I've been offered while heavily pregnant
I started a new job 2 weeks ago and they were happy to hire me. Including when I told them I planned to have more babies asap.
Some employers are more open minded and inclusive thankfully.
What hope is there for pregnant people when there are employers like you?!

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Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:38

@CrushedPistachios
Start date next month
I'd be able to work 2 months then hoping 6 months off then back to work

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Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:40

@MadeOfStarStuff
I wasn't the only person to be interviewed as far I know so they should have other candidates to pick from
I imagine it's got a few wanting as it's a very senior management role

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Hiphopopotamus · 16/09/2021 20:41

I can’t quite believe what I’ve read here. Attitudes like this are why women struggle in the workplace. The OP is the best person for the job - if she takes her maternity leave and returns she could stay for the next twenty years. Maternity leave is a legal right because of attitudes like this.

MyPatronusIsACat · 16/09/2021 20:41

[quote Traveller3367]@MyPatronusIsACat
Wow I'm glad I don't work for you
This is actually the second position I've been offered while heavily pregnant
I started a new job 2 weeks ago and they were happy to hire me. Including when I told them I planned to have more babies asap.
Some employers are more open minded and inclusive thankfully.
What hope is there for pregnant people when there are employers like you?![/quote]
Really?

MyPatronusIsACat · 16/09/2021 20:43

@Hiphopopotamus

I can’t quite believe what I’ve read here. Attitudes like this are why women struggle in the workplace. The OP is the best person for the job - if she takes her maternity leave and returns she could stay for the next twenty years. Maternity leave is a legal right because of attitudes like this.

Come off it. No employer I have ever known would take a woman on whilst 6-7 months pregnant or more. They just wouldn't. It's never happened.

PurplePizzaCake · 16/09/2021 20:45

I can't believe some opinions on this! Of course you can apply for a new job and accept it when heavily pregnant! What a out people who have lost jobs/moved to a different area while pregnant? If you are the right candidate then the company would be happy to have you there long term, even if they might find it slightly inconvenient to recruit for a temp maternity cover or redistribute work for a short period of time

Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:46

@MyPatronusIsACat
Haha no word of lie. Part time started 2 weeks ago
Shame that it's so hard for you to believe. Perhaps if you were more open minded about hiring pregnant people you too could embrace a working world where pregnant people are valued just like other workers :)

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Aprilx · 16/09/2021 20:46

@MyPatronusIsACat

That wasn’t a ludicrous analogy. In fact it is the correct way to look at it, because the equality laws in our country are there to ensure women are not treated less favourably because they are pregnant. So considering whether a man with a a pregnant partner should apply for a job or not, is the perfect way to assess whether a pregnant woman should apply. Because it should be the same.

Yes, of course it will be inconvenient for the employer, but that is what comes with being an employer in a country that has equality legislation,

Original poster

Traveller3367 · 16/09/2021 20:47

Thanks all for the supportive comments
I'm second guessing myself and feeling guilty but I'd rather that then accept a world where I have to pass over opportunity because I'm discriminated against

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MyPatronusIsACat · 16/09/2021 20:49

@Aprilx

That wasn’t a ludicrous analogy. In fact it is the correct way to look at it, because the equality laws in our country are there to ensure women are not treated less favourably because they are pregnant. So considering whether a man with a a pregnant partner should apply for a job or not, is the perfect way to assess whether a pregnant woman should apply. Because it should be the same.

Yes, of course it will be inconvenient for the employer, but that is what comes with being an employer in a country that has equality legislation.

Maybe they do have to have equal rights (pregnant women) but the vast VAST majority of employers will not take on a woman who is 6-7 months pregnant. They simply won't.

AhNowTed · 16/09/2021 20:50

Pregnant women still have bills and need to work shocker 🙄

QueenBee52 · 16/09/2021 20:51

was it not obvious though in your interview that you are pregnant ... so they offered the role fully informed ..

MyPatronusIsACat · 16/09/2021 20:51

@AhNowTed

Pregnant women still have bills and need to work shocker 🙄

Hmmmm..