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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking a job in a tiny business when pregnant

455 replies

Fromageetvino · 23/12/2021 13:13

Ok so I know IABU but venting a little.
I took on my first FT employee in July this year (already have 1 x part timer). Three weeks in she disclosed that she is pregnant and is now off on Mat leave.

It’s an industry where recruiting is super difficult at the moment so getting a mat leave cover is likely to be practically impossible.

I know it’s her right etc, and of course have treated her fairly and she will be returning whenever she chooses to return.

But if I’m honest - it’s absolutely screwed our plans for any growth this year (on top of covid troubles).

While I know it’s “right” would you take on a job in a small business when pregnant?

Am prepared to get flamed here (hence the NC).

OP posts:
Original poster
Fromageetvino · 23/12/2021 13:33

Wow am surprised by the votes

OP posts:
sparklefarts · 23/12/2021 13:38

If it's difficult to recruit in your industry just now and you're happily with her level of work etc, then I'd just be happy you have her?

murasaki · 23/12/2021 13:39

But she's not going to be there to work..

AhNowTed · 23/12/2021 13:40

Pregnant woman needs to work to pay the bills shocker.

murasaki · 23/12/2021 13:42

Of course, but the op need someone to actually work. However I hope there is someone out there who can do the mat cover.

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 23/12/2021 13:43

Tbh I'd have got rid of her in August when you found out she was pregnant, in her probationary period I'd have just said it isn't working out.

Original poster
Fromageetvino · 23/12/2021 13:43

@sparklefarts

If it's difficult to recruit in your industry just now and you're happily with her level of work etc, then I'd just be happy you have her?
But I don’t have her. That’s the issue. Recruiting the role for a permanent basis would be tough, but do-able. But on a mat cover it is Practically impossible,
OP posts:
Totalwasteofpaper · 23/12/2021 13:43

Personally I wouldn’t as much for myself as for the business but some people aren’t as pragmatic.

Sorry OP it’s a shit situation but also (righty) the law

sparklefarts · 23/12/2021 13:45

Aye but I obviously mean in the long run. If it's that hard to recruit just now you could have still been looking by time she comes back from mat leave?

I wouldn't do it myself like. I would be upfront in the interview myself . Just playing devils advocate

ShirleyPhallus · 23/12/2021 13:47

I see recruitment as a long term issue. 6/9/12 months off isn’t really a big deal in the grand scheme of things if her skills were so niche you struggled to find someone.

Ultimately women of childbearing ages need jobs, and if you ever take on any woman between the age of 20-40 you accept the possibility of her getting pregnant

MrsMoastyToasty · 23/12/2021 13:47

It's annoying but the state will be paying her maternity allowance.

PineappleWilson · 23/12/2021 13:48

Presumably she won't be entitled to mat. pay as she hasn't been there long enough, only mat. allowance and is intending to come back once baby arrives. If she comes back FT, you'll be glad she applied initially.

Ducksareruiningmypatio · 23/12/2021 13:48

You're really not being unreasonable.
Yes she is protected by law, but next time you have a post to fill it will be in the back of your mind. Anyone that says it wouldn't occur to them obviously isn't running a small business.
It sets things back when this happens.
No matter what is lawful, it's screwed you over.
No. I wouldn't screw over a little company like that.

Fanmango · 23/12/2021 13:50

Yes I would if I wanted the job and saw myself pursuing a career there, if so then mat leave would be a small proportion of the years I'd likely spend there, and the role might not come up again for years.

TrufflesAndToast · 23/12/2021 13:51

@Thehogfatherstolemycurry

Tbh I'd have got rid of her in August when you found out she was pregnant, in her probationary period I'd have just said it isn't working out.
Me too. She’s within her rights to take the job but it’s clearly screwing the employer in this sort of tiny business - she will have known that. She can’t possibly have expected you to be in any way pleased or even unbothered about this. Yes you can take a job in a tiny business when newly pregnant but surely no one would actually expect to stay employed or that this would in any way set the foundations for a positive working relationship going forwards.

Employers like the OP are not big or established businesses and I personally don’t believe they should be subject to the same employment laws when something like this can effectively sabotage their fledgling business. And I say that as a woman who has taken may leave twice. I’d be mortified to do that at the expense of an individual woman-owned business just starting out.

user15364596354862 · 23/12/2021 13:51

Yeh, you're right op, pregnant women should have a restricted pool of employment opportunities. Hmm

What about disabled people? Should they be allowed to work for small businesses?

What would you have done if she developed cancer or had a car accident necessitating a long time off sick? Why don't you have contingency plans for your staffing levels?

WouldIBeATwat · 23/12/2021 13:52

@MrsMoastyToasty

It's annoying but the state will be paying her maternity allowance.
She’s accruing leave from the OP.
AhNowTed · 23/12/2021 13:52

@Ducksareruiningmypatio

You're really not being unreasonable. Yes she is protected by law, but next time you have a post to fill it will be in the back of your mind. Anyone that says it wouldn't occur to them obviously isn't running a small business. It sets things back when this happens. No matter what is lawful, it's screwed you over. No. I wouldn't screw over a little company like that.

That is a ridiculous statement.

She hasn't screwed anyone over. She's got a job which presumably she needs to eat.

What else would you expect a pregnant woman to do, starve?

Original poster
Fromageetvino · 23/12/2021 13:54

For people asking. Not entitled to mat pay that’s not the issue really.

The issues for me are:
We literally cannot progress without the role being filled. It’s not super niche, she wasn’t actually my first choice (but my first choice got offered two roles at the same time and picked the other). But right now recruitment is very tough and competitive so a contract role isn’t that attractive to people.

For me - it’s hugely affecting my mental health as am back to the 12hr days etc as it’s all back on me.

The role was set out to be friendly to working mums. Flexible, wfh etc, so I did know this was a possibility. Just didn’t expect someone actually pregnant to take it.

By the way, am fully aware that I’m venting, it’s just not something I can really talk about IRL.

OP posts:
Ducksareruiningmypatio · 23/12/2021 13:56

@AhNowTed
Unlikely.
She was not upfront, now the OP Has no employee and is expected to take her back and pay her holidays.
It's a very selfish approach and I simply couldn't do that to a small business.

Original poster
Fromageetvino · 23/12/2021 13:57

@AhNowTed so do I. So does my PT employee.
And this does to some degree put us at risk.

I’ve worked for a huge corporate and it’s a fact of life. For a tiny business like mine, in the middle of a pandemic - it’s really shit.

OP posts:
ThirdElephant · 23/12/2021 13:58

Can't you get insurance for this? I know when I came back off maternity leave my employer claimed on their insurance for extra expenses they'd had to pay due to my maternity leave.

AhNowTed · 23/12/2021 13:59

[quote Fromageetvino]@AhNowTed so do I. So does my PT employee.
And this does to some degree put us at risk.

I’ve worked for a huge corporate and it’s a fact of life. For a tiny business like mine, in the middle of a pandemic - it’s really shit.[/quote]

None of that is her fault.

Original poster
Fromageetvino · 23/12/2021 13:59

@ThirdElephant

Can't you get insurance for this? I know when I came back off maternity leave my employer claimed on their insurance for extra expenses they'd had to pay due to my maternity leave.
Nothing I am aware of. Though if there is I guess it wouldn’t be relevant now, but will look into this for the future.
OP posts:
1concernedmummy · 23/12/2021 13:59

I think the real issue here is that the government could offer more financial support to small businesses to cover additional recruitment and HR admin costs. Some kind of small business maternity costs support grant perhaps. Particularly in sectors that are struggling but essential, like childcare.

As someone who tried for a baby for years due to fertility issues, then became pregnant just after starting a new job I am aware that babies cannot always be planned.