30 weeks pregnant and starting a new job with 6 months probation period

[Timsy]

I am starting a new job with 6 months probation period and I am 30 weeks pregnant. When should I tell my employer and I want to take 4 months maternity leave.

I think it would only be right to tell them as soon as possible because they'll have to recruit your replacement fairly quickly.

Thank you for your reply but I am scared whether they can fire me or not .

They can't fire you for being pregnant but I would suggest that you need to tell them straight away as a courtesy.

You might find this article reassuring. If you have a concrete job offer in writing and you tell them that you are pregnant, they cannot withdraw the offer without falling foul of sex discrimination rules.

It goes on to say the following which I think would apply ... "If you were already pregnant when you started the job, you probably won?t be entitled to statutory maternity pay, but you?ll still need to get an official form from your employer which says why they can?t pay you. You may be entitled to maternity allowance from the Jobcentre instead, and you?ll need your employer?s form to get this."

I was pregnant when I started a job but I had told my new employer in advance. I negotiated maternity pay as part of my package for agreeing to join them.

If you want to take maternity leave you are supposed to tell your employer by 25 weeks so I suggest you tell them ASAP. You'll only be there 8 weeks!

Did they not notice at interview?

Funnily enough they didnot notice it may be coz I am not over weight.thank you for you advice and help I will do that as soon as possible.

You need to be prepared that they will not be happy. The law is on your side, but they will have a new member of staff they are expecting to stay long term, and will be finding out that she will be disappearing on mat leave in a few weeks.

Law or not, they are not going to welcome your announcement with open arms.

Funnily enough they didnot notice it may be coz I am over weight.thank you for you advice and help I will do that as soon as possible.

Out of interest why did you take the job when you are pregnant? Is it an amazing opportunity or were you hoping to gain maternity pay from it?

I was made redundant and i need the job desperately thats why I took this job. I need money desperately. I was thinking whether they can fire me with an excuse of unsatisfactory references.