Work concerns, when to ttc

[French2020]

I’m 30 and I work for a small business. I have just been told my role is changing to be more senior after working there for 8 months. This will be a pay rise but I don’t expect it to be massive. I’m glad to progress but my husband and I had discussed starting ttc in January. Is this too early? I’m aware working for a small company I’ll only be entitled to SMP which I understand. I think it is my responsibility to save etc before having a baby. But I am concerned about what their reaction would be. I feel like is it worth doing this role if I’ll just be replaced. Ideally I would want to go back part time.

I only get stat mat pay. We've been saving since we started trying (19 months ago ha). Remember you're pregnant for 9 months so a long time to save. I just think... Everyone else manages it. We'll adapt. Hopefully haha.

Starting TTC in January is almost 6 months away, plus 9 months of pregnancy, plus however many months it takes to conceive. You'll have been there a lot longer by the time you come to take time off, if you conceive in January it'll be almost 23 months and at 24 the added protections against being let go kick in.

Being in a more senior role will give you extra skills/experience/higher negotiating point for a salary if your small business is inflexible around your baby. If they're going to be inflexible at the new role, they'll still be inflexible at the current role. And you can put your payrise straight into a bank account for covering maternity leave without impacting on your current lifestyle!

You don't know if you'd fall pregnant the first month or it could take 2 years so I'd accept the more senior job.

Just remember they are under no obligation to have you back part time. You can request it but often senior jobs are full time or nothing