New job offer but TTC

[BellaBee91]

Hi,
We have been TTC for 7 months now, to no avail yet. We’re in talks with our doctor for blood tests to see if anything is wrong- if it is, hopefully we will be seen by a specialist for help. My heart breaks a little every month as I didn’t expect to still be waiting 7 months in

my issue is I’ve just been offered a new job. this is not my dream job but career wise it is a lot better for me than my current job. In my current job, I would be entitled to Mat pay and a full year. Where I live, you have to have worked 26 weeks for the employer by the 15th week before the due date to be eligible or additional Mat leave, so the full year. I absolutely would not want to only take 6 months off. If we keep TTC now and I get pregnant before I start this job (April) I feel like I’d be disadvantaged.

I don’t know whether to take the job. We are desperate for a baby and we’ve already had to put off trying earlier because of new jobs, new house and wedding. I don’t want to stop now at all but equally I’m nervous about starting a job with 6 months probation and getting pregnant during that time. Obviously we’d be overjoyed but I’m worried that they could find a reason to get rid of me/it would look really bad. Worst case scenario I would just quit but obviously want to avoid that.

My current job I am more of an admin assistant than what I’m qualified for, it’s easy but boring and my confidence is shot. The new job would be hard but probably better for me.

Any opinions? My anxiety has flared up so badly this week and I just feel sick thinking about it all :(

@BellaBee91 this is a tough decision, I just want to say that it sucks you have to make these kind of trade offs. Or that any of us women do.
It sounds like you're unhappy and undervalued in your current job so you maybe shouldn't stick around just for the mat leave. I know it's a risk but I'd probably go for the new job - you want your future children to grow up seeing you thriving at work.
That said, only you know what's right for you. Maybe think through the "worst case scenarios" in each case and see which one you're best able to live with?! Falling pregnant during probation at new job vs still being at current job and not falling pregnant for a long time.
I hope neither of those comes true for you obviously! Good luck making the decision

You may be getting confused as everyone is entitled to 12 months maternity leave regardless of how long they have been in the job.

Does either employer offer enhanced Maternity Pay as that may have different eligibility requirements?

SMP requires you to have worked for 26 weeks by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant which is what this bit means in the info you quoted (Where I live, you have to have worked 26 weeks for the employer by the 15th week before the due date to be eligible or additional Mat leave, so the full year)

Thank you, that is really helpful. I thought about the thriving thing earlier, I want my future kids to have a happy mum not a stressed one. Thank you :)

Unfortunately I’m not under UK rules (one of the islands off the UK) and it’s slightly different here :( entitled to 26 weeks ordinary Mat leave but have to be there for a certain length of time for additional time