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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Pregnancy & new job

22 replies

Trickytricky · 03/02/2015 23:19

Hi all, got a BFP this evening .

This is my first pregnancy so very new to all this. Excited but also little bit anxious. Am about 4 weeks (first day of last period was 6 Jan). I am due to leave my current job in 3 weeks and start my new job in 5 weeks (so will be 9 weeks when I start).

Can the new place get rid of me at the end of my probationary period if I'm pregnant?

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SueV14 · 03/02/2015 23:24

How long is your probation period? By law, they certainly cannot get rid of you because you're pregnant. I hope you're aware that you won't get maternity leave money..?

I have resigned from my last job planning to take a few weeks to clear my head and then start looking from January. 2 days after I resign I get a BFP... Perfect timing on one hand but not great for new job hunt.

SueV14 · 03/02/2015 23:25

Are you planning to tell them before/when you start?

OllyBJolly · 03/02/2015 23:35

No, they can''t get rid of you because you're pregnant. They could get rid of you for other reasons (although most companies would be extremely careful to avoid discrimination claims).

If they're a decent employer - and there are many out there - it won't be an issue. If it's not a big career move and/or a significantly improved position, you might want to consider whether this is the right time to move jobs.

Original poster

Trickytricky · 03/02/2015 23:43

I was under the impression that as long as you'd been at the company for 6 months before giving birth you were eligible for maternity? Is that not right. The company only offers statutory anyway.

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FishWithABicycle · 03/02/2015 23:44

How long is your probation period? You don't have to tell your employer you are pg till 25 weeks pg (so 16 weeks into new job, more than 3 months).
However, probation is just the period during which they can get rid of you with a shorter notice period (e.g. 1 week) - an employer can get rid of any employee in the first 2 years without giving a reason so long as they honour contractual notice.

So the probation isn't the issue. (a) prove yourself so brilliant and capable in your first 16 weeks that their only reaction to your absence will be wondering how on earth they will cope till your return (b) resolve that any employer who would want to get rid of a capable talented person such as yourself merely because of pregnancy is not one you want to work at anyway, so if they do let you go that's a lucky escape (c) consider taking a shortish ML so they don't have too much time getting used to being without you.

FishWithABicycle · 03/02/2015 23:49

You'll be eligible for maternity leave, but not maternity pay. The exact wording is more complex but basically you have to have not yet started your period of the cycle in which you get pg on the day you start your new job in order to get maternity pay.
You'll get maternity allowance instead, which is of a very similar amount to smp, but no 6-weeks-at-90%.

Original poster

Trickytricky · 03/02/2015 23:57

Thanks all! So, fingers crossed, financially we'll be no worse off.

Yikes, pretty terrible timing. Perhaps not a great time to move jobs.... Although seeing as I won't be anywhere near 12 weeks when I leave current company seems a massive gamble to turn down job & stay put ( as could MC).

OP posts:

SueV14 · 04/02/2015 07:20

OP, the maternity pay policy is different in all companies. I worked for a very big oil & gas firm and the policy was that you had to have worked there for at least 18 months before going on maternity leave (not give birth!). So basically you could only get pregnant after having worked there for a year to get maternity pay. Also, the company won't care when you give birth, it's crucial for them when you go away on leave.

And also, my company's policy was mean saying that if you are off sick too often once you hit 6 months your maternity leave will start automatically (meaning if you only go for 1 year you'll have less time with your baby at home). Now thinking back of all these things I'm so glad I'm put of there!

Original poster

Trickytricky · 04/02/2015 15:16

Thanks all! I know that the maternity policy at the new place is statutory only so I think the statutory rules would apply - as I understand it you have to have worked for 26 successive weeks at the company by the 15th week before your official due date. Sadly I won't have been there for long enough.

Does anyone know if that means they don't have to keep a job for me etc? Slightly worried now...

OP posts:

WorryWurta · 04/02/2015 16:02

I was in the same situation exactly, once you have completed your probation you have exactly the same employment rights to return to work, unless (god forbid) your post is made redundant for non-pregnancy reasons. The maternity pay thing only affects what you can claim whilst you're off. Congrats on job & pg!

Original poster

Trickytricky · 04/02/2015 16:38

Thanks WorryWurta - so assuming DC doesn't arrive until I've completed probation I should be ok?

Feel a bit awkward starting work and then three weeks later announcing I'm 12 weeks pregnant!

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SueV14 · 04/02/2015 17:08

Ok, I got curious about the statutory maternity pay myself and googled it. Here the answer: www.nidirect.gov.uk/statutory-maternity-pay

So, the way I read it, one has to be employed for at least 26 weeks until 15 weeks before your due date. Correct me if I misunderstand? Does it basically mean you have to be employed for 41 week before your due date???

bambinibop · 04/02/2015 17:15

I'm interested in this too as I'm currently a sahm and looking for a new part time job but also thinking about ttc no 2 so I don't know whether to put off ttc for now or put off trying to find a job! I'll be following this thread

bonzo77 · 04/02/2015 17:20

If you are not eligible for smp you can get stat mat allowance instead. Amount is the same.

ChesterCake · 04/02/2015 20:06

Yes you need to have worked for the company for 26 weeks when you're 25 weeks pregnant

Hodds89 · 04/02/2015 21:30

Hi i was about to right a similar post! I found out i was pg the day before starting new job!!! Also abit worried i may not get the job after my 3 month trial (only 5-6 weeks) confusing stuff!!!

Original poster

Trickytricky · 04/02/2015 21:41

Hodd - it's a very tricky situation isn't it?! Don't want to tell new employer until 12 weeks tho be used could miscarry.

OP posts:

BalancingStick · 04/02/2015 22:00

I'm in the same position - started a new job in Jan and only found out I was pregnant after I'd handed in my notice in my old job. I'm now 13 weeks and still not planning on tell them for a while. I feel very awkward about it ( I've been brought into a senior position to implement a long term strategy) but have decided my baby comes first. I will tell them when I feel ready - although am dreading the conversation. Am planning on telling them at around 20 weeks, so long as it isn't obvious by then... At the moment my 'bump' just looks like I had a good Christmas.

Hodds89 · 04/02/2015 22:02

Im gonna try and not tell them untill the 3 month trial period has finished?? Trouble is its a picking and packing job so a bit worried about the expected heavy lifting and such!?!? Really tricky lol x

Newmom2b · 04/02/2015 23:53

I was in the exact same position. Started new job at 8 weeks pregnant. Didn't tell them until I was gone 25 weeks which coincided with me passing my 3 months probation. (This is 2nd DC and managed to hide my tummy no problem!) Worked up until 37/38 weeks and that meant that I had been employed enough for them to keep job open for me. I am getting MA which is £138 per week. Good luck OP x

Khaxby · 05/02/2015 00:53

Job hunting during pregnancy is so hard. I was made redundant just before Christmas and subsequently found out I was pregnant in January. Now at 10 + 4 and am petrified about finding a new job and being 'let go' during the probation period as employers don't need to give you a reason as to why they are letting you go during probation period which means discrimination can be rife.

My advice to myself currently is to always be to be completely honest - if they use the probation 'no reason' trick on you, the place isn't the right to support working mums anyway.

Wishing you luck! x

WorryWurta · 05/02/2015 06:42

Tricky tbh I think you'll be ok even if you tell them during probation. I ended up doing so because I had time off sick (bleeding in early pregnancy) and I wanted it as 'pregnancy related' on my record. I felt awful cos I was hired to launch a new project but they were really really nice about it. TBH I felt safer in my probation with them knowing because I reckon you'd have to have bloody watertight reason to let a pg women go at any point, because the first thing anyone would think would be discrimination. HR would have kittens at the thought! There is no legal way to sack a person for being pg, probation or no. I don't even think they can turn you down at interview for being obviously pg, they'd need another reason. Tho I would understand an employer being a bit miffed because it's not ideal at the end of the day you can't put your life on hold waiting to get pg!

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