Can I delay new job's start date due to maternity leave?

[KiraCeleste]

Hi all,

I have a beautiful 3 month old baby boy but have been job hunting recently as my fixed term contract ended in July. My company's maternity pay is awful and I am currently on SMP. My partner's salary is okay but we are getting married next year and I feel I should bring some money in.

I didn't expect it to happen quite so fast but I had an interview this week for an amazing job and have been offered the role today, although we're still negotiating start date. I've told the hiring manager that my previous job would like 3 months' notice, but this is only really so I can get more time with my boy before starting - I'm BFing so will need to wean onto bottle etc if I was to start this role. They are digging their heels in and asking for 2 months' notice. Should I be honest regarding my situation? I don't believe I have any legal standing and its down to the discretion of the employer.

I am also having doubts about returning to work with a 6 month old baby, so any experience on this would be much appreciated too - I fully expect to be met with some criticism but nothing is set in stone, and to be honest I'm still unsure about what to do.

Thanks in advance! :)

I know a couple of people who returned to work after 6-7 months. Full time positions. It worked OK but one of them struggled with lack of sleep and baby and the other had got into a strict routine very early on (I think she just got lucky!) Both bottle fed by that stage.

Did they ask about notice periods before and what did you tell them?

And what notice period do you actually have? You will still need to give notice although i appreciate you are on mat leave anyway.

If your actual notice period is 3 months and you told them that then they can't really demand you start sooner but it's also a bit disingenuous of you to not tell the truth.

Well your going to look like a liar if you tell them the real reason and this wouldn't go down well with me at all. I wouldn't want to take on someone that was prepared to lie to get what they wanted - especially even before you had even started. You should have been honest from the start - plus they will know when they ask your employers for a reference of when you actually worked there so they will be able to see you had already left.

You went for a job interview with out being even sure you wanted to go back to work yet and this would really piss me off too that I had spent time investing in some one, setting the ball in motion, doing the paper work to have them bail at the last min or try and push the start date back.

Unfortunately if you want the job you need to start, they would not be hiring if they didn't need someone!

I think you need to start if you really want this. FWIW I took 5 months maternity leave with both DC and went back full time. Both were only breast fed for 6 weeks though. DC2 was a terrible sleeper and it was really tough for the first 6 months back.

I went back around 3 months with each of mine. Was totally fine.
One was formula fed and one exclusively breastfed.