Taking a job in a tiny business when pregnant

[Fromageetvino]

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).

Honestly I think taking a new job when your know you’re pregnant is a shitty thing to do, especially if when the job in in a small business. I realise that’s an unpopular opinion, but there you have it.

I don't think its a fair thing to do to a small business owner. In the NHS we had what we considered to be a CF (and I still think she was) who came to an interview heavily pregnant and disclosed that it was her intention if she got the job, to take the maximum mat leave and would be able to work for around 6 weeks before her mat leave began. Her previous employment was in the NHS so it was as though she had worked for us previously so no 2 years of limited employment rights or probationary period. Needless to say we found a more appropriate candidate.

I think you are laying blame unfairly. It is frustrating if your business isn't doing well enough to both meet it's statutory requirements to its employees and expand, but that isn't the fault of your employees.

@Viviennemary

It is pretty grim for small businesses. Maybe the law needs to be looked at again.

Someone mentioned up thread better support for small business around maternity. That would be an amazing initiative as it’s win win.

You wouldn’t get company’s that won’t employee women of child bearing age. You wouldn’t get someone like me stuck etc.

I think it’s hard to say how difficult it is. It’s not just maternity pay. If I do find someone - it’s an extra £2000 at least for licences and equipment etc. It’s the extra payroll. I had to take extra HR advice for her maternity leave to make sure I did everything right (another few hundred quid).

It is a risk you take in running a business of any size of course, but I’m not sat here counting my millions. That money comes out of what I earn.

@godmum56

I don't think its a fair thing to do to a small business owner. In the NHS we had what we considered to be a CF (and I still think she was) who came to an interview heavily pregnant and disclosed that it was her intention if she got the job, to take the maximum mat leave and would be able to work for around 6 weeks before her mat leave began. Her previous employment was in the NHS so it was as though she had worked for us previously so no 2 years of limited employment rights or probationary period. Needless to say we found a more appropriate candidate.

I mean that's discrimination too isn't it?

I'm astounded that people are so happy to volunteer the information that they've discriminated against people.

Who else had you interviewed?

If someone took you to tribunal would you get away with such obvious discrimination? I hope not.

She/he would not pass their probationary period. Purely hypothetical what reason I would come up with but rest assured, it wouldn't be, because you're planning to take 6 months off imminently.

As I said above, I'm not an employer. Just a freelancer getting shafted by their clients (like so many other freelancers). I have no intention of taking on staff. But I like the idea of better support for small businesses around parental leave. That sounds like a win-win. And would hopefully prevent at least some discrimination around employment.

@Stompythedinosaur

I think you are laying blame unfairly. It is frustrating if your business isn't doing well enough to both meet it's statutory requirements to its employees and expand, but that isn't the fault of your employees.

Not sure what that’s supposed to mean? This isn’t really a financial issue. It’s a resource one. We can currently afford one FT employee for this specific role. We cannot source a FT employee for maternity cover easily. Throw in uncertainty over the timing and it’s nigh on impossible.

@Butchyrestingface

If someone took you to tribunal would you get away with such obvious discrimination? I hope not.

She/he would not pass their probationary period. Purely hypothetical what reason I would come up with but rest assured, it wouldn't be, because you're planning to take 6 months off imminently.

As I said above, I'm not an employer. Just a freelancer getting shafted by their clients (like so many other freelancers). I have no intention of taking on staff. But I like the idea of better support for small businesses around parental leave. That sounds like a win-win. And would hopefully prevent at least some discrimination around employment.

You know that panels on a tribunal aren't stupid though, don't you? How would you prove it was for other reasons and not the most obvious and indeed the one you actually did dismiss for?

Please don't ever take on staff. We don't need any more shitty employers.

I agree better support would be good but stopping people dismissing pregnant women would help too.

@Butchyrestingface Well thank god you're not an employer, because what an awful (and illegal) attitude to have. By the way, you don't have to state pregnancy as reason for not passing probation for tribunal to find discrimination.

Wow this thread is just horrific. So many awful people in the comments. This is why employees don't give a fuck about work - because their employers think and talk about them like this for having lives. I would never put an employer first again and this is why.

@IntermittentParps

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. Well, you can’t have it all ways, can you. The role has attracted someone in the category you made it attractive to.

Working mums - not women who were already six months pregnant.

You know that panels on a tribunal aren't stupid though, don't you? How would you prove it was for other reasons and not the most obvious and indeed the one you actually did dismiss for?

I know they're not stupid. But since we're talking about a purely hypothetical situation, I can't really speculate on what I might be prepared to overlook in an employee who isn't about to disappear into the middle distance for xx length of time, versus one who is.

Please don't ever take on staff. We don't need any more shitty employers.

Oh, don't I know it. I'm on the receiving end of constant non/slow paying clients (unfortunately an occupational hazard in my industry) . No intention of redoubling my woes by taking on employees.

When the company I work for had a similar scenario, they advertised in the local school newsletter and we got a great lady term time only between school hours to cover the mat leave. In the end she did so well she got offered 3 days a week between school hours term time only when the contract ended (due to increased business), and she also fills in on holidays / busy periods especially now that her kids are older and can get themselves to and from school, so I'd say she probably works 4 days out of 5 now.

[quote Freecuthbert]@Butchyrestingface Well thank god you're not an employer, because what an awful (and illegal) attitude to have. By the way, you don't have to state pregnancy as reason for not passing probation for tribunal to find discrimination.[/quote]
Yes, I don't you don't need to state pregnancy as a reason for a finding against you. 🙄

And I thank God I'm not an employer either. I wouldn't fancy being in OP's position here.

Yes that's really shit.

I own a very small business and try and avoid women likely to start a family if possible. I know that's not PC but it's how it is.

That's really shitty she shouldn't have accepted the jjob.
You're left without a staff member, your other staff or yourself will be picking up her workload and someone more available has missed out on a job. Everyone but her is inconvenienced

@AhNowTed

Pregnant woman needs to work to pay the bills shocker.

Small business employs person because they need them to do a job shocker

@Mia400000

Yes that's really shit.

I own a very small business and try and avoid women likely to start a family if possible. I know that's not PC but it's how it is.

It's not just "not PC", it's literally illegal. People like you should never run a business, absolutely shameful.

I personally could not do that to a small company. It's just manners to explain that you are pregnant and not roll up on day one of employment and announce the news.

Whilst I WHOLEHEARTEDLY support mat pay and mat leave for women, and was twice in receipt of both myself, I do see that it can really screw over a small business like the OP's.
I don't know what the answer is though.

@Mia400000

Yes that's really shit.

I own a very small business and try and avoid women likely to start a family if possible. I know that's not PC but it's how it is.

I want to say that that’s an outrageous attitude but as a small business owner I agree. We have just taken someone on to do a job and if she took 6 months to a year off after we have just trained her it would make things very difficult. I don’t blame an employee for doing it but I also don’t blame an employer for wanting to avoid it

We had similar in our really tiny company. Interviewed a lady and offered her the job. She couldn't start for 3 months by which time she was very obviously pregnant - not mentioned at interview.

She worked for TWO days then was signed off sick and went straight onto maternity leave. She was away for twelve months during which time she accrued her annual holiday allowance of 28 days. She then informed us that she wasn't going to return. So we had to pay her for 6 weeks wages when she'd only ever worked for us for 2 days.

It really is no wonder that small businesses are reluctant to take on women of child bearing age.

@Notadramallama Jesus. That’s appalling.

I know she is legally within her rights but I think it’s ethically wrong if she knew she was pregnant before she took the job, especially knowing you are a small business - it’s women pulling stuff like this that will make people wary of hiring women of child-bearing age. I understand pregnant women need to work as much as anyone, but this situation leaves a bad taste. If she’s not been with you long through I assume she is only entitled to statutory maternity pay?