Job offer in early pregnancy

[TeddySunflowers]

I applied for a job before knowing/being pregnant and have pretty much this week discovered I am both almost 6 weeks pregnant and have been offered the new job. I will 100% be continuing with the pregnancy. DH and I have been trying for four years and only a few months ago a fertility consultant told me I should give up hope of having biological children, it was extremely upsetting, so this pregnancy is a miracle for us.

The offer is better money and better benefits and my notice period is a month.

But I don't know what to do. Should I tell the hiring manager before making a decision to accept/reject the offer? I don't want to come across as dishonest and I don't want to start a new role and immediately piss everyone off by being pregnant but I also don't want to lose the opportunity either.

Any advice would be welcome.

Tricky one. In an ideal world they'd be fine and say no problem.

Tell them and see what they say

Personally I wouldn’t take a job when newly pregnant because I found pregnancy a challenge. Having to go through all that plus learn a new role in a new company without support from people who knew me would’ve probably tipped me over the edge.

Obviously there’s nothing unreasonable about taking the role, I just wouldn’t do it.

If its a local authority role then give them a call because they've probably had this before.

I know it's sometimed difficult to contact the hiring manager though

I wouldn't take it. My pregnant friend was "let go" during her probation period. Yes it shouldn't happen but it does. Stay where you are and protect your maternity rights

Do you not need the maternity pay from your current job?

That's the only thing that would make me stay

Otherwise don't tell them until you need to (like if you need a risk assessment) - you're under no obligation to tell anyone until I think the 25th week or something?

How would the new job affect sick and maternity pay? That's what would swing me

Massive congrats OP! This happened to me…offer and BFP on same day! I decided to tell them, because I was going to have to anyway and their reaction would tell me whether it was a good idea to go ahead. They bent over backwards to make it work and so I knew it was the right decision for me, as everyone knew where they stood from day one. One thing to bear in mind is moving jobs while pregnant disqualifies you from SMP but you will be eligible for maternity allowance.

May be worth considering the ‘after’. Do you want to go back part time? Which job would allow that? Could you afford to live on maternity allowance as you’d likely not be entitled to any enhanced pay in your new place (unless they are very generous). Tricky one. Only you can decide your personal circumstances. Even if you tell them they can’t recind your offer based on your maternity status.

If you do choose to take it then no, I wouldn’t tell them. You aren’t legally obliged to and six weeks is early on enough that many women wouldn’t even know anyway.

But I agree with Merry that I’d consider whether a hard-gained pregnancy that you’ll likely be more concerned about will be compatible with the additional stress and effort required in the first months of a new job.

As far as I understand, I would get maternity allowance which is the same amount as SMP. And with the increase in salary I'd easily be able to save to account for not getting 90% of my earnings for the first 6 weeks.

I know I'm not legally obligated to tell them but I feel like I should now that I know.

Thank you! We are completely shocked but really happy! It's helpful to hear other people's similar experiences. I think I maybe follow your example and tell them and see how they react.

Yes tell them, honesty is the best start to build a relationship with them..Congratulations on both 🎉

I wouldn't tell them, many women don't know they're pregnant at this stage and although it feels like the right thing to do there are SO many employers who will find a reason to retract the offer after hearing this news. I know this from bitter experience!

Huge congratulations

If employers are going to reject you based on the fact you are 6 weeks pregnant (early stage of pregnancy), then that's there loss,at least someone you won't have the worry about whether you should of told them. Most employers won't though unless it's a job that requires heavy lifting and harsh chemicals around you

Congratulations.

I pulled out of a final application (I was the only candidate) because I found I was pregnant. They didn’t fill the role and I reapplied on maternity leave and joined thereafter.

My question therefore is…will the role either come up again or still be there in 18 months time? I freely admit I gambled but it very much paid off.

I mean't you won't not someone 🙈

I wouldn’t tell them either. Without sounding overly negative (and I’m sure it’ll all be fine!) a lot can happen between 6 weeks and 20 weeks.

If you don’t need the maternity package of your current job I’d definitely think about taking the new one.

Although is the new job quite rare? Could you feasibly reapply in a couple of years?

Sadly, don’t take it. You won’t be protected or have maternity rights. You’ll be vulnerable to dismissal due to being on probation.

I was so so sick for 2 months of my pregnancy and was barely functional. It didn’t kick in until week 8ish - week 6 I was out skiing off piste!

my suggestion would be to decline the offer and say why, and say you would be very keen to be reconsidered for the same or similar role in 2024. They’ll appreciate your candour, hopefully, and if they’re dicks about it then you’ll know they weren’t worth working for anyway.

I agree with this. They're recruiting because they need someone now and while of course it's legal. Privately they could be annoyed that they have to recruit again in a couple of months as well as all the training in etc. it's just not how I would want to start a new role.
Also you don't know how sick you're going to be ( hopefully now) and trying to learn and impress jn a new job while suffering from morning sickness would be hard. I'd decline in and tell them why and tell me you'd love to reapply in 18 months. If they really want you then go get will chase you then.

I quit my job with nothing to go to whilst TTC (was actually going self-employed/short contracting), and found I was pregnant at the point I was offered an 18m contract.

I went for telling them, asked for a 6m contract instead. I knew I would find it less stressful to be upfront than to show up pregnant and have to tell them.

They were adamant that they wanted me, and kept the role at 18m. Like you, the salary difference made the switch from the other role worth it regardless.

Six weeks pregnant really is very early. Take the job, and save hard in the first few months.

Take the job & tell them and if they're fine with it then amazing.

Pregnancy is really difficult yes, but there are things to take for sickness etc.

Will you be WFH or office based? You also might not start for a good few weeks and by then you will be over the worst of it. Unless you get HG.

X

I wouldn't tell them

Take it. Keep quiet until you suss out what your employer is like. If they are likely to be unsupportive, keep quiet until you legally have to disclose it.

But I think pregnancy discrimination protection only kicks in when your employer is aware of your pregnancy so weigh that up. Be careful about telling family and having it get back on the grapevine.

This - look up Pregnant and Screwed. You only have to tell them when you have to tell them and you're doing nothing wrong.