Applying for a new job while pregnant

[Traveller3367]

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)

@sticktomygun
Your views are utter tripe imo
I'm not disadvantaging other women. More likely middle class Caucasian men who are overrepresented in my field!
I haven't chosen this job as it gives me a competitive edge. I chose it as it's the natural follow on to my current role and would allow me to have a huge positive impact over shaping how the industry looks in the area. Possibly benefitting thousands of people
Clearly me passion and drive came across in the interview.
Why should I not apply for a post that I think I would be good at?
Note that Jacinda Arden had a baby in office!
I hope that my appointment pushes the industry to be more inclusive

@Sciurus83 good luck with your applications
@candlelightsatdawn refreshing to hear your views. Please keep making the workplace a safe place for pregnant women ,:)

The company will jump through every legal hoop with a smile on their face.

The manager that gave you the job will think 'Note to self: avoid emplying younger women.'

Not saying it's fair, but that is what will happen.

The company will jump through every legal hoop with a smile on their face.

The manager that gave you the job will think 'Note to self: avoid emplying younger women.'

Not saying it's fair, but that is what will happen.

Unless of course, the manager understands that babies are part of life, maternity leave happens, finds reasonable cover for 6 months, and then OP comes back and wows the shit out of them, achieves lots, and stays for significantly longer than the 6 months she was off for.

Every single woman of childbearing age is an asset to someone. We have a part to play and a contribution to make. The sooner the entirety of the western world accepts that the logistics of maternity cover are a fact of life (whether that person has been with a company two months of twenty years) the better. You might all be happy getting your husband's lasagne on the table at 5pm every night, or getting stuck as the office wench for your 20s and 30s, but I'm sure as hell not.

**You might all be happy getting your husband's lasagne on the table at 5pm every night, or getting stuck as the office wench for your 20s and 30s, but I'm sure as hell not.

100%

YANBU. To be honest, yes it might make more work for the employer as they now have to find someone who is temporary while you’re on maternity leave, but they wouldn’t have offered you the job if they didn’t think you were the best person for it.

I personally wouldn’t apply for jobs while heavily pregnant but that’s just my anxiety talking. I see no issue with someone else doing it.

A senior manager in my workplace rang me a few weeks ago to give me the heads up on a new position that would be being advertised and that she thought I should apply for it

I immediately told her that I’m 6 months pregnant and her immediate response was ‘and? Why should that stop you?’ I said why would they take someone on knowing they’re going on mat leave in a few months and she said if they’re right for the job etc then of course they would

I have applied for it but I did state in my application that I’m pregnant. I haven’t heard back on it yet but I won’t be shocked if I don’t get it

OP red flags:

1. Doesn’t write well enough or maturely enough for a “senior management” role
2. Pregnant people
3. “Lots more babies ASAP”

I think you have wasted their time due to now dithering about accepting the role I'd they can't find a suitable cover. You wither want the job or you don't. If you do want it, accept it and they can make the arrangements for your cover if you don't want it, decline now and not worry about it.

In a weird situation that I can't be bothered to explain, my DH and I both applied for the same job (there was more than one post) when I was about 6 months pregnant with our third child. He was successful and I wasn't. I don't know if my pregnancy had anything do with it but I know the panel didn't know we were married - we don't have the same last name and he took the job and they were surprised when he told them the story.

Anyway, we did shared parental leave and he ended up taking months off work when he had just started the job. So in my mind the example of a man with a pregnant wife is a real one.

OP I don't think there is anything wrong with what you did. You might take 6 months off work and then work there for 20 years and be employee of the month every month. Would that make it ok? I've actually done this twice and was offered the job the other time, same as you. I ended up not taking it because it wouldn't have been the right fit for me in the end, but I wouldn't have felt guilty. Pregnant people still need to work.

@SalsaLove
Jealous much

@SalsaLove
Of course I'm not gonna be writing well when I'm on a forum, typing on my phone
Honestly what silly comment
Just because my role at work is senior management, doesn't mean I can't be colloquial outside of work
And clearly someone appreciates my relaxed nature as they are willing to let me be in charge of £100000s of company money
So jog on asap

@Giraffe888
So nice to hear of stories where pregnant women are encouraged

I know I'm going to be unpopular here but this is one of the big reasons why some places won't hire (cis) women of this type of age. It's just not worth it for them to hire someone who will be missing almost straight away.

OP are you in the veterinary field by any chance?

@wombat1a
That's a very narrow view
Anyone can have a child (whether through pregnancy or adoption or surrogacy etc) and be off work so it's not longer just women of child bearing age that are in need of leave
Would it make a difference if I only took 6 weeks and my husband took the remainder of the year? Why should I get discriminated against even though I might not be the one off for long?

@KnesleyLope nope

*theres probably 100s of women that could do it

You're obviously massively privileged that you feel entitled to take up the position in place of someone else*

ridiculous! Firstly not true, but secondly they're welcome to be the best candidate in the recruitment and I will tip my hat to their excellence and wish them every success.

So sad to see how many women actually have ingrained discrimination so deep they would disadvantage themselves and are so hostile to other women who don't. It doesn't have to be this way.

The OP is talking about a high level management role, in this instance the employer may well take a long term view and have the capacity to arrange cover with little inconvenience.

This is totally different to a small employer filling an entry level role who dosnt have the hr team to deal with all the arrangements and just need someone at the desk.

Of course you still need to work whilst pregnant, but in middle management I wouldn't look to change my role whilst pregnant and did infact temp for 5 months when I was made redundant at 3 months pregnant. I just didnt need the additional stress.

Sorry but you are not Jacinda Arden. Wow.

She was already state head before she was pregnant and went straight back to work. She also has the power to support all women which despite your claims you don't. Is that the only example you have to counter the issue of class and the impact on working class women?

Saying that white cis male is the default in the industry is actually worse because you're definitely taking up one of limited roles in the organisation that supports women. Again, your cover will probably be a woman acting up so not job security for them.

You are clearly very driven to push your way into this sector and take advantage of any opportunity, whether its ethical to do so or not, so im sure that will continue to carry you far.

I think.its funny that that you're justifying this by saying you're (eventually) going to be having an impact on people and making the industry more open.

To do all that you'll actually have to go back to work - that remains to be seen if you will, and if you do whether you actually deliver.

If you want to be selfish, just be selfish but don't pretend you're a hero for doing.it.
.

Are your current employers still happy to employ you now you'e planning to bugger off within a few weeks?

Of course you should take the job- they chose you as the best candidate, and asked for you. They’re in a much better position than most employers when looking for maternity cover since they’ve just interviewed a load of other people who were second best!

@Traveller3367

**You might all be happy getting your husband's lasagne on the table at 5pm every night, or getting stuck as the office wench for your 20s and 30s, but I'm sure as hell not.

100%

The office wench ?

And you're complaining of misogyny......

Just because someone's not management doesn't mean they are not making a valuable contribution !

@DDiva she was quoting something I said. In the same paragraph I said: "Every single woman of childbearing age is an asset to someone. We have a part to play and a contribution to make." So quite clear that I agree with you. Pretty much exactly why I didn't say "stuck as an admin assistant", because I know admin assistants are really fucking valuable.

Anybody else just playing "inclusivity bingo" here? Inclusivity if you disagree, you're a dinosaur (ageist, much?) pregnant people (but reverts to "women" when trying to claim misogyny claims misogyny but is rude to women who disagree. insults "middle class Caucasian men" Masters degree....... Anyway, I'm a pregnant woman and I wouldn't do what you've done, I'd have waited until after mat leave. But tbh, I don't really care. I'm guessing you're public/charity sector? You'll be fine.