Maternity fixed term contract

[laurG]

I’vevjust been offered a new job. I really,really want to take it. It is a great opportunity to develop my career. However, there’s an issue. It’s a one year fixed term contract. It might get extended but No guarantee at this point. I’m 37 and really want to have another baby. I have a six month old and really want to get on with having another asap. If I took this job would I be entitled to smp (after the qualifying period)? If so it would mean that my contract would be up before I sent on leave. How on earth would that work? Plus is it morally wrong to take a job when I know I really want to get pregnant and might cost them a lot more money? Should I just pass it up? Right job. Wrong time maybe?

Obviously there’s no guarantee that I would get pregnant too. So if I didn’t then my contract ran out then I’d have to find another job and wait another six months before qualifying for smp somewhere else.

No idea what to do. I don’t have. Enough money to support us without some sort of maternity pay. I know I’d get maternity allowance but it’s not much. Husbands wage not enough to live on.

Once you have qualified for SMP, this has to be paid, regardless of if your contract ends or if you resign. So provided you had worked there for 26 weeks by the 15th week before due date (and are still working there at the 15th week before due date) you will get SMP.

I don't think its wrong to take the job, its a year long contract and you're not currently pregnant so chances are you wouldn't be leaving miles before the end of the contract anyway. In fact arguably its better to take a fixed term job because they only need you for a year anyway, so it if ends up being just 11 months, no big deal. With a permanent job its more likely that you're causing them problems (I would still advocate taking a permanent job btw, just saying that I don't think a fixed term contract makes it worse).

Definitely take it if it seems like the right job for you!

So if I didn’t then my contract ran out then I’d have to find another job and wait another six months before qualifying for smp somewhere else.

You don't have to wait to be passed the qualifying period to get pregnant, you just need to not be pregnant when you start.
Obviously the issue a FTC would cause is if you got pregnant 8 months into it, you wouldn't qualify for SMP from where you worked because you'd leave before you got to 15 weeks before the due date, and you wouldn't get it from a new job because you wouldn't have been there long enough.

But since there are so many unknowns in trying for a baby, and this job sounds like it would be good for you, I'd go for it.

Thanks ladies. So you have to have worked somewhere for 26 weeks before the 25th week of pregnancy to qualify?

So theoretically I could get pregnant in month one and so long as my contracts still running qualifying week I’m ok? But if I got pregnant and my contract runs out before the qualifying week I’m not? I thought you had to be there 6 months before you got pregnant!

I really want to take it. Great opportunity. Family friendly and there is a good chance I’ll be kept on (fingers crossed 🤞).