New recruit pregnant before job starting

[FlimFlamJimJams]

I've started a new business, it'll open to the public around April time.
It's a very small, community focused business with only 4 staff members initially.
I recruited all the staff within the last few weeks and are finalising contracts. Everyone has formal job offers, no one yet has a job contract.

The roles require training on the job resulting in a nationally recognised qualification, probably achieved within 12 months or so. The business is paying for this.

I have had meetings with everyone individually this week to go through bits and bobs, start dates etc - and at the end of a meeting with one lady yesterday, she tells me that she's 12 weeks pregnant and anticipates starting her Maternity leave around mid-July. She said she found out at 5 weeks - so she'd have known she was pregnant at interview.

I'm now stuck in a difficult position - the business is already going to struggle financially for the first few years (it's not quite a non-profit, but it's close) and I'm now facing having to extend someone's training at least 6 months past everyone else's as well as find temporary cover, which is expensive. She may well choose not to return after her maternity. I turned down other applicants who applied after her job offer was made.

I guess there isn't a AIBU, because I'm not going to do anything, but I feel really deceived and a bit stressed about the whole thing.
I know everyone is entitled to get pregnant etc. But I wasn't anticipating someone going on ML before they'd even qualified, or finished their probation.

Are people aware that it can take years to have a family? I'm currently pregnant but it's taken nearly 4 years to get to this point, due to recurrent miscarriages. I have stayed in a dead end job for that entire time because of attitudes like this. DP has been promoted twice in that time. How is that fair?

Just another reason for the pay gap between the sexes.

[quote UnshakenNeedsStirring]@RoomOfRequirement really idiotic to compare pregnancy to cancer btw, well done. Jeez[/quote]
Not at all. You're just projecting your own issues onto this woman, and now me. It's hilarious.

She’s entitled to have a baby when she wants and apply for a job when she wants, I’m not sure why you would feel ‘deceived’? I think it’s quite out of order for you to say that to be honest, your language is discriminatory. She might be shitting herself whilst pregnant thinking you will sack her and she won’t be able to provide for her baby, or everyone will dislike her from the offset.

A few years ago I had an abortion when I got pregnant in between interview and starting a job, because I was so worried about what people would think (that I’d deceived them, or was taking the piss) and thought it was the sensible thing to do. I regretted it later and resent that I felt forced by the situation.

I don’t think women should be put off applying for jobs whilst ttc or pregnant, else gender equality will always continue. The logistical and financial problems are for businesses and governments to resolve.

@RoomOfRequirement people chose to get cancer is that what you are saying?
And no I am just feeling sorry for yet another business owner being shafted by a deceitful person

@RoomOfRequirement

You have clearly never started a brand new business so why don't you pipe down with your hyperbole. You are becoming a tad embarrassing with your cancer analogy-very silly and illogical to do this.

Sadly, you have shown your arse now.

Are you so aggressive because you pulled the same trick?

@Blossomtoes

someone had a long term illness or accident and took the same length of time? I'm sorry it's inconvenient for you but it really is a cost of running a business. Pregnancy is just the only one people complain about.

That’s because pregnancy is the only one that’s a choice. This situation is the reason post menopausal women clean up in the job market. Any employer who’s been caught like this tends to be wary of recruiting women of childbearing age, women with adult children are very attractive.

I've been trying to get pregnant for 7 years. Multiple tests, meds and infections and rounds of IUIs and IVF. Nothing. If I changed jobs and then got pregnant I would be ecstatic and wouldn't think twice about it being 'inconvenient'. I'm glad pregnancy was a 'choice' for you - for many it is not.

And the rest of your post is again showing the misogyny employers have that I was talking about.

If no implications I'd also retract the offer.

[quote TameDucksAtChatsworth]@RoomOfRequirement

You have clearly never started a brand new business so why don't you pipe down with your hyperbole. You are becoming a tad embarrassing with your cancer analogy-very silly and illogical to do this.

Sadly, you have shown your arse now.

Are you so aggressive because you pulled the same trick?[/quote]
I thought the only thing that mattered was the 'effect' on the business - this would have the same one.

Pregnancy is not always a choice, whether through an accidental pregnancy or someone TTC for ever, like me. I WISH I'd had the chance to 'pull this trick'.

@Viviennemary

Tell her the offer is now withdrawn. And deal with the Consequences if any. That is what I would do.

You'd risk the consequence of a tribunal? You'd be very foolish indeed if so!

I imagine OP is not giving enhanced maternity, so it doesn't cost anything!

Of course there is a 'cost'. The training, as OP described. The 'cost' of training two people in a short space of time ( the original prospective employee and their cover).
Or the 'cost' of having to take up the slack for having one member of staff down.

Big companies/ education can and should be flexible. However it is ridiculous to think small businesses can just absorb this. This could have serious consequences for the business- which will then affect the employment of everyone else

Of course the applicant should have rights. Of course! But the small business owner expressing concern over how this will affect her company is NOT misogyny- it is merely being realistic.
Sheesh!!

I think you were very optimistic in planning for everyone you hired to stay on and pass the training. If any of them left you’d presumably have the same issue because you’d have to hire a new person and train them too?

[quote TameDucksAtChatsworth]@RoomOfRequirement

You have clearly never started a brand new business so why don't you pipe down with your hyperbole. You are becoming a tad embarrassing with your cancer analogy-very silly and illogical to do this.

Sadly, you have shown your arse now.

Are you so aggressive because you pulled the same trick?[/quote]
I think shes does that as well. Thats why shes hell bent on defencing one person at any cost to the OP. Setting up a small business is backbreaking and the risks involved are huge. Imagine losing everything youve ever work hard for and dreamed of.
OP you are being very nice and kind and I wish you much success. Sending you my best wishes.

@Viviennemary

Tell her the offer is now withdrawn. And deal with the Consequences if any. That is what I would do.

That would be a very very stupid thing to do. Legally this woman has done nothing wrong but unfortunately her actions WILL have a negative impact on the Business unfortunately. She is well within her rights to do this but and in her position I may have done the same However, I feel for any Business owner facing this and as someone who has been involved in Recruitment If I had 2 equally good candidates and one seemed more likely to get pregnant than the other (appreciate it’s not always easy to tell) then I would go for the other candidate

@Whingasaurus your comment is despicable actually

@Viviennemary

You need to toughen up if you want to run a profitable business. There is no room for emotion. Make a business decision and do whats right for the business.

Hm, yes and no. It's a very small community and the business itself is very ingrained into the community so in some ways I need to make decisions with empathy for the sake of business as well as morals

I imagine that this country does not offer paternity leave at all or shared maternity leave.
What if a man had a pregnant wife and decided to take a few months paternity leave, as it is possible in some countries? Would he be deceitful as well? Or is it just women?

This is no different than the woman falling pregnant during the 12 months and deciding to keep the baby.

You just prepare for it on your business plan. Like you plan for other risks.

I do worry for this business, but not because of this woman. Simply because the OP doesn't seem to have done a proper risk assessment.

I'd get some professional HR advice for the country you are in. It will help you decide a course of action with this woman and you can get advice if you have an employee go off on long term sick, not perform, fail the exams/s etc. This can then be put in the employment contract.

@FortVictoria Thank you for understanding

If she's the best person for the job, then she's still the best person for the job even if she has to take maternity leave.

Why would you prefer to hire somebody who wasn't as good as her, just because she's pregnant?

[quote FlimFlamJimJams]@RoomOfRequirement

The Maternity pay isn't really the issue - it's the training.
To do the job, everyone must do the training. I specifically employed on that basis and it was made very clear in the advert and at interview that everyone would need to get qualified within 12-14 months.

By going on ML, she will be missing at least 6 months of training meaning that I'm going to have to extend the contract with the supplier just for her. It's at least £1000 a month plus assessor fees etc. So one staff member doing it separately to the rest is going to cost a fortune, not to mention the logistics of not having everyone qualify at the same time.[/quote]
What do you think should happen?

Either you think women of childbearing age should have the same career opportunities or you don't.

If you are not in the UK and there are no legal implications to you in withdrawing the offer then - WITHDRAW THE OFFER!!

You are not running a charity. You know that sticking with this person is going to cost you additional $$$ which your company can't afford. The pregnancy is a red herring - there could be any sorts of reasons which could mean the cost was more.

If you were in the UK then you'd have to grin and wish her congratulations through very gritted teeth.

Do not take her on if possible.
Put your business head on - it will cost you too much to train her later.
You will have a lot of hard decisions to make in the future, start practicing now.

@showmethegin

Are people aware that it can take years to have a family? I'm currently pregnant but it's taken nearly 4 years to get to this point, due to recurrent miscarriages. I have stayed in a dead end job for that entire time because of attitudes like this. DP has been promoted twice in that time. How is that fair?

Just another reason for the pay gap between the sexes.

But this woman applied for the job and attended the interview knowing she was pregnant but kept quiet until she got the job? Very different scenario to be honest

[quote FlimFlamJimJams]@RoomOfRequirement

The Maternity pay isn't really the issue - it's the training.
To do the job, everyone must do the training. I specifically employed on that basis and it was made very clear in the advert and at interview that everyone would need to get qualified within 12-14 months.

By going on ML, she will be missing at least 6 months of training meaning that I'm going to have to extend the contract with the supplier just for her. It's at least £1000 a month plus assessor fees etc. So one staff member doing it separately to the rest is going to cost a fortune, not to mention the logistics of not having everyone qualify at the same time.[/quote]
From what you say then it seems that she can't fulfil the conditions of employment?

You would be wise not to start her training until after she returns from maternity leave to protect yourself. I'm on your side btw - I turned down a promotion I was offered because I knew I was pregnant and wouldn't be able to do the project, some of us do have a conscience. Unfortunately women of child bearing age are discriminated against because of maternity leave and pregnancy discrimination laws. Having to retain employment when they haven't even started seems ridiculous.