Got a new job, when to tell employer I'm pregnant??

[Pinkstar85]

Hi. I've just accepted a nanny position and il be almost 12wks when I start, which is the 3rd week of sept. I didn't know I was PG when we talked about the position, but I knew I was when I went for the interview. I need this job and I think I have a right to earn money before this baby (my 2nd) is born. BUT I do feel guilty. I have a couple of options. Do I call her now and confess (I'm 7wks) and hopefully she'll be happy to have me for 4/5mths, and keep my fingers crossed I can find a temporary position if she doesnt want me any more, or do I tell her after my 12wk scan which I'd only been there barely a week :-/ I'm also a bit worried that being PG and having 5 (!) kids to look after will be really hard.

Gosh, I think in your situation I'd wait. I don't think there's an easy solution to this. Your new charges would just be settling in with you and then you'd be off again. The mum won't be happy either way, so I'd go about it in a "selfish" way that makes you more likely to keep the job. Do you need the money at the moment? If not, I'd be more likely to confess now and see what happens.

I'd tell them. Legally if you have the job they can't fire you, but you are entering a position which requires trust and transparency like few others do. As a working parents you'd hope they will empathise. I'd be much, much more upset, and perhaps angry, if I felt my nanny was keeping this from me, despite knowing by law you certainly don't have to tell.

Your boss won't be happy, but you have to put your own children first - no one else will.

I would wait til you have started and signed the contract so they can't find an excuse to sack you. Could you offer though to make it a fixed term contract so they don't have to worry about finding maternity cover and holding your job for you?

You won't get SMP anyway, so it won't make a difference to your maternity pay.

Would you want to go back to the job? In which case don't give up your right to a permanent job just because you feel bad! I accepted a job when pregnant and told my boss when I had to, which was a few weeks later because I had a lot of medical appointments. He was fine, although I do recognise that working for a family in their home is a bit different to working in an office as I was. Its not an ideal situation but your new employer will have to accept it - up to you when you tell I'd be tempted to wait until after you've started but if you don't mind lying you could always say you only found out very recently.

Thankyou everyone. I did end up telling her and she wanted me anyway :-)

Hey congrats! thats great that she's still wanting you to start. I'm a nanny and had a tough time finding a job being pregnant. I got a temporary one in the end and am almost at the end phew! Looking after 5 kids (?!) (can you even get insurance for that?) will be tough..I'm with 2 and they completely exhaust me (I know there are pregnant Mums out there with more but it is so different when they aren't yours) so make sure they don't expect too much of you. Good luck!

Just realised this is an old thread! Hope you're getting on ok