To refuse pregnant employee request to delay recruitment?

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I manage a small team of 6 people. One of the team members is pregnant (she is deputy team manager), her role requires a specific set of skills and a qualification that no one in the team can cover so we need to recruit for a mat leave cover - it will also take a good few months to train the cover on internal systems (ideally the pregnant team member will do the training and handover). She wanted to wait until 13 week scan until we recruit a cover as wanted to check all okay with the pregnancy. That has been and gone and she is now 16 weeks. All seems fine with pregnancy but she is very anxious (has paid for at least 4 reassurance scans since testing positive). She now wants to wait until 20 week scan to make sure all okay before we start interviewing for cover. AIBU to gently say we have to recruit now regardless of her view.

Of course it's not unreasonable. Her anxiety can't be allowed to dictate how you run the business.

you still need to have the cover for the business

I was like your employee. Anxious, many scans etc. however I had to force my employer to get my role out to advert as the idea of it not being recruited to was more stressful as I’d have to come back to a role that hadn’t been looked after.

make it clear to her that you are doing this for her and for yourself/business to ensure she doesn’t have to stress.
she probably needs reassurance that you’re not replacing her permanently - we defo get this fear lol.

Her fears can't override the necessary practicalities of preparing for her absence.
Neutral but clear that this now happens. There is always the possibility that her may leave starts early if she gets pre-eclampsia for instance... If you leave it too late that would put a real spanner in the works.

Is there no one in house you could train instead? Or as well as? Seems a bit daft to only have one person being able to do certain things. What if she becomes unwell - my pelvis was unstable and I was off from 26 weeks with last pregnancy so things can happen, must be worrying for you both but the recruitment will take a while if you even got someone first time by which time she could be almost off on mat leave depending how much annual leave she has.

YANBU. It isn’t up to her when you recruit for her mat leave cover.

Has she formally applied for maternity leave? At my work (public sector) we can’t recruit until we have that.

But if your work do things differently then perhaps highlight to her that even if you advertise now it’s likely to be another few weeks before you can actually offer the role. And ultimately if something changes and she doesn’t go on maternity leave after you've found someone to cover that’ll be your problem to resolve not here.

My impression was she is worried about somehow jinxing the pregnancy, not that she is worried about being replaced.

A PP suggestion to train other people is good anyway, regardless of pregnancy what happens if she is on leave or I'll or resigns.

She doesn't even need to have told work about her pregnancy yet.

Your last point is valid.
i didn’t tell anyone at work (other than my manager) until I was 5.5/6 months.

I can also do her role and cover when she is off but have full time responsibilities of my own so can’t do it for a year. A significant part of her role (approx 50%) requires a specific qualification that no one else except me and her have. The others can do the rest of her role but have full time responsibilities of their own - so not really the capacity to pick up at the moment. We do need to recruit externally.

My impression was she is worried about somehow jinxing the pregnancy, not that she is worried about being replaced.

yes, this is her worry

she has told more senior management but not submitted a MATB1 or but anything in writing. She’s also informed verbally of her intended last day in the workplace (and booked holiday from then for 2 weeks, which is 3 weeks prior to her due date) - I’m not sure if that counts as formal notice yet though.

You're not being unreasonable.

Have you contacted Liam Neeson? I heard he has a very specific set of skills. 😁

It is not really anything to do with her. You are the manager and you have to recruit for the cover according to your organisations rules. If she has an issue with this I think you need to have a kind but honest conversation with her about how this is your decision and you need to think of what is in the best interests of the team and the business.

My view, as a manager, is if you can get the cover in place do it now. This will allow as much time for knowledge transfer as possible.

Then you know it is irrational and so need to deal with it politely but firmly. There is no place for superstition in your decisions as a manager.

YANBU.
But as this is pregnancy related anxiety I don't think you can say anything logical that will ease the situation. Maybe tell her that recruitment will take a while so it won't be 'real' until much later, if that helps?

If she hasn't told the rest of the team she is pregnant you will have to make sure you are careful how you refer to it in front of others. Eg. A fixed term contract to help out. Apart from that you can do whatever you like.

Thanks! Yes she has told everyone in the team

Given that she doesn't need to have told you yet and that the matb1 form isn't issued until after the scan has taken place it seems a bit odd to me that you are trying to recruit now. I'd wait a few weeks.

Does she also have issues with her husband telling his family that they are expecting a baby?

It's poor business continuity planning to only have 1 person (other than you) able to do the work.

What's the big deal between 16 and 20 weeks?

Many women I know wouldn't even tell their employer at the 16 week stage.

What's the rush?

There are MONTHS to go.

Coming at it from another view, I’m not even planning on telling work until after the 20 week scan, they don’t need to know.

What would you have done if she hadn’t told you?

My point exactly

Not that I’m aware of. Her and her DP (not DH) have told everyone now as far as I know.