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Original poster

Job Offer withdrawn after informing employer that I am pregnant.

999 replies

Char1997 · 30/07/2019 16:59

Hi all,

I originally posted this on as a pregnancy thread. As the situation has evolved I have been advised to post on here. I was offered a job yesterday afternoon and although I know I was under no obligation to inform them, I told the employer that I was expecting in December. Since then I have had the job offer withdrawn as they felt that I “misled them” and wasn’t honest. Is anyone able to give me some advice if I were to take this further.

OP posts:
PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 15/08/2019 17:13

I have just read this thread and well done you for taking it further. I would guess loss of earnings? How much money will you lose out on? How long do you think it will take you to find another job?

MissBridgetJones · 15/08/2019 17:17

@Char1997
Maybe speak to your emolument lawyer friend regarding compensation.

You are being compensated for loss of earnings? If so it would depend on the salary of the job offered and then revoked.

spinn · 15/08/2019 17:40

This has delayed you starting work anywhere by a month at least so there is a starting figure.

Only now you are further into pregnancy so chances of employment elsewhere is less (irony given what caused it) so a least a couple more months worth of salary.

Loss of maternity allowance as those 4 weeks may well mean you can't now earn enough weeks to qualify.

You can be fairly factual at your losses incurred here

carly2803 · 15/08/2019 22:04

Give them a higher figure than you want (or deserve actually), they will negotiate down, but you cannot go back up.

start high.

take them to the bloody cleaneres.

yikesanddang · 15/08/2019 22:11

You are unlikely to get another job lined up as you will be showing your pregnancy more. So you will be out of employment until the point at which you would have returned from maternity leave. Calculate that time. Then add a bit for the stress and inconvenience.

Original poster
Char1997 · 16/08/2019 01:44

I completely agree, i’ve been to several interviews since and I am definitely starting to show so it is getting more and more difficult for me, inevitably causing me more stress than i need atm. I have spoken to a fair few people and have been told to ask for at least the four months pay i would be missing out on, i have also been told to put my top bet as my starting salary. I don’t want to overreach here and seem greedy but can anyone advise me on a rough figure they would put if they were in a similar situation? For example she said my starting salary would be £18k and would go up to £20k after 6 months of working for them. I have no doubt that they will try to settle as this case is pretty clear cut but i think it’s finally sinking in for me what they have actually done to me and i want to stand strong and proud and fight this!

OP posts:
HollyBollyBooBoo · 16/08/2019 06:14

I'm no expert but do you need to work out
a) full salary that you would have got before going on mat leave and b) maternity pay that you would have got whilst off on mat leave?

YobaOljazUwaque · 16/08/2019 07:13

Lay it out in writing with the calculation included.

If this had never happened and you had started on the start date you discussed, at £18,000 you would have had 4 months at that salary before going on leave. That's £6,000 in lost earnings as the stress and delay caused by their discrimination has meant you were unable to find a different job.

If you would have qualified for maternity allowance but now won't (you need to have been employed for 26 of the 66 weeks prior to your baby's due date) then add the loss of that too. If it was me I would deliberately under-claim on this and just put in for say 16 weeks - total £2,379 - for 2 reasons. Firstly, to keep the claim under the £8,800 maximum for the claim band you opted for and secondly to shame them for their obvious assumption that employing a pregnant woman automatically means having the post vacant for a year.

also add any out of pocket expenses you have had in dealing with this.

There would be nothing wrong with adding an amount to compensate for the damage to your mental well-being, but that would take you over the £8,800 maximum for the band you are applying in (unless you do qualify for maternity allowance anyhow). I am not familiar enough with the system to know whether that is a big deal.

Original poster
Char1997 · 16/08/2019 10:00

@YobaOljazUwaque Thank you so much for that it really helps!

Thank you everyone definitely going to take all of your advice!

I’ll keep the thread updated!

OP posts:
cdtaylornats · 16/08/2019 10:53

They are discriminating on the grounds of dishonesty.

bluetue · 16/08/2019 11:02

Just place marking and wanted to say thank you OP for taking this further and doing this for all women.

This will be the last time that the company makes this mistake!

Washpot · 16/08/2019 12:42

Placemarking too and wishing you all the best. Sorry I have nothing to offer but I think the most useful advice has already been given.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 16/08/2019 14:55

Spot on @YobaOljazUwaque!

stucknoue · 16/08/2019 15:08

Double whatever you are thinking, they are bound to offer half!

youhaveafacefortheinternet · 16/08/2019 15:11

In complete admiration of you for going down this route as it must be scary for you. Looking forward to seeing how much you get.

This will bloody teach them!!!

AtrociousCircumstance · 16/08/2019 20:39

💪🏼

GreenTooth · 17/08/2019 10:17

Well done you OP. I hope they're shitting it! Good luck... Take them to the cleaners!

Redred2429 · 17/08/2019 11:26

I would say request compensation in the form of the notice period

RunsForGummyBears · 17/08/2019 17:19

Well done OP. No advice, but I wanted to say good luck!

Ginkypig · 18/08/2019 11:00

I lost this thread for a while but I am really glad it's still going.

Iv got my fingers crossed char.

TheInvestigator · 18/08/2019 11:14

Have you heard from the company themselves at all? Or have the left you alone?
I hope it's not the sort of industry where they could bad mouth you to all potential employers.

willywillywillywilly · 19/08/2019 11:46

Good luck!

Original poster
Char1997 · 24/08/2019 18:24

Hey all,

Not sure how much I can disclose but I can confirm this has gone through to ACAS now. The company has until the 6th of September to settle otherwise I will receive the certificate to be able to take the case to an employment tribunal. I put my highest figure as the number recommended to me by a union rep and a employment law solicitor and my lowest as the direct pay I would have missed out on.

Fingers crossed they settle. My job hunt following this has been unsuccessful and I am still attending and receiving many offers for interviews but I am approaching 23 weeks and am starting to look very round😂 getting another job is starting to look very unlikely unfortunately.

Will keep you updated with the outcome after september 6th!

OP posts:
PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 24/08/2019 19:57

Best of luck to you!

Carlamity · 24/08/2019 21:06

Good luck Flowers How healthy is this company financially?

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