Fallen pregnant on maternity cover!

[Holly3]

Hi :-)

So I'm on maternity cover until end October, fallen pregnant super quick and we really didn't think it would happen so fast as last time took over a year.

I need to inform my boss soon as there are some things at work and some machines etc I can't use - I'm just not sure what's best and don't want to shoot myself in the foot. If I tell them now (6 weeks) can they get rid of me before the end of my maternity cover? I've been there since end October last year.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated! We also have a night out next weekend and I'm not sure what to use as an excuse!

@Nicecupofcoco Thank you ❤️ completely agree, life is too short and after what we went through last time I'm feeling so blessed. I'm going to speak to my boss next week when I'm in and be completely honest xx

@MandalaYogaTapestry and then be unemployed and trying to conceive or starting a new job and being pregnant?

I’m very grateful I’ve always had brilliant employers who unlike pp understand that life happens. People leave jobs (especially short term contracts) for all kinds of reasons. OP you don’t owe them your life so don’t be made to feel guilty for getting on with it.

Congratulations! I believe it would be discrimination if they were to terminate your contract early on the basis of your pregnancy - there must be something on the gov website about this surely?

I’m stunned by the idea that anyone should put their life on hold for a 2-day a week short term contract. Workers exchange labour for money: they have the right to withdraw their labour according to the terms of their employment contract. Signing a contract doesn’t mean signing your life away.

So you were TTC (trying to conceive) while covering another person on a short fixed-term contract? Sorry, but that is quite irresponsible

Why?

OP they shouldn’t treat you any different work wise to anyone else who is pregnant. If they get rid of you because you’re pregnant it’s pregnancy discrimination

because she was hired for one year, to replace a pregnant employee. She could have waited a few months to ensure that she can work the entire short period. The company has done one handover, then they will need to find a cover person for the cover person - for the remaining few months - do another handover, then the primary employee comes back and the second cover person does the handover again. All this is inconvenient, expensive and could easily be avoided.

So? People have to make major permanent/long term life decisions based on convenience and costs to an employer offering them a short term job now?

Someone could start work and then go off sick for 6 months on day 2, would they also be “irresponsible”?

Or they could start work and then leave, eg because they get offered a permanent job. That kind of thing happens all the time. Same impact on the employer

Methinks that MandalaYogaTapestry may want to spend some time meditating on the purpose of yoga and mandalas, as a way of bringing calm, joy and happiness into this world and chill out a little bit more! ;)

@pointlessaddict - very true points!! I know I signed a contract for a year but dont most people? And I will be working most of my pregnancy anyway!!

Thank you for your reply 😊

Working as maternity cover is not a promise not to get pregnant yourself. OP is exactly the same as any other employee in the company. Any of them could get pregnant at any time and their employers needs should not be a factor in the decision.

Congrats OP!

Ignore Mandala.
This is a happy time, don’t let him her get you down. The only reason they post is a chip pissing exercise.
Your contract of employment isn’t written in blood by a virgin on holy ground. You’re allowed to get pregnant and leave when you want to.
You’ve done nothing wrong.
Congratulations.

Congratulations OP. I wish you a healthy & happy pregnancy.

If there is equipment you need to avoid, it makes sense to tell your boss as soon as possible.

It's absolutely normal for people to fall pregnant / fall ill / move house / take up travel / live on a yoga retreat at any point in their working lives.

You being on a temporary contract doesn't make any difference or mean you owe any more consideration than anyone else, and by the sounds of it, you'll be carrying out your duties to almost the end of the contract term anyway.

I think it happens far more than you think, it's in the same lane as women who fall pregnant on maternity leave, which is also really common.

Congratulations, be honest with your line manager as she has a duty of care to keep you safe, if you're 6 weeks and you started in October, they'll be a couple of weeks in it if you work right up to the wire? So in terms of inconvenience to your employer I'm sure it's no different to someone taking a long holiday or an extended period of sick leave (I had pleurisy once years ago and had three weeks off poorly) so I'd say it's really nothing to worry about

I hate how OP has been attacked over TTC and her work commitments. I fell pregnant very quickly after starting a new job but we had been TTC for 3 years. You can't put your life on hold, what are you supposed to do- not work?

This happened to me- a week before I was due to start a maternity cover post I (very suprisingly) found out that out that I was pregnant. I was open with my manager and told them straight away, I figured it best to be open and honest about it and due to the nature of my job I needed to tell them as there were going to be a few minor things I wouldn't be able to do.

Other than a few comments from some of my colleagues (I am still working in the same place but a higher position), the majority of people have been really supportive and lovely about it. My manager is advertising another maternity cover post for when I will be on maternity leave myself- I will go off in June and my post is until November.

When I first found out that I was pregnant I couldn't believe the timing, and even though it was a complete suprise it is very much wanted. I have a few friends who are currently having issues with fertility and I figure that we should just be thankful that we have been able to conceive naturally without any problems. As many people have said to me, you could wait forever for the perfect time, these things happen and your employer should understand that.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and try not to worry x

I would tell them to be fair. If you can't use certain machines. I'm sure they won't mind. I think they'd rather know.

Definitely tell them as you don't want to be operating any machines which you shouldn't be while pregnant.

Ignore all the people judging you. Your family is far more important than a 6 month temporary contract.

I'm pretty sure they can't get rid of you as it would be discrimination.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Frankly if a company isn’t willing to commit fully to you (contract wise) why would you commit fully to them?

Don’t put yourself or your much wanted pregnancy in danger. Otherwise tell them when you are ready.

Good luck

@MandalaYogaTapestry I think you should probably apologise to the OP. Were you working when you fell pregnant? If so you should probably apologise to your employers too.

Will you get SMP if you've only been working there 3 and a half months?

@PJPests What a lovely message to wake up to! I asked for an opinion concerning my job not to be slated or attacked for my OWN choices - it doesn't affect you personally so if you can't give advice either way please refrain from leaving comments like that.

'People like you' comes across incredibly rude and judgemental.

@Lulubump Thank you so much this is super helpful. I'm going to be honest and just tell her when I'm in next week, I will almost be working until my contract ends anyway give a couple of weeks here or there & I also have holiday to use. xx

When we hire people on short term contracts they inevitably leave about two or three months early anyway as they need a job to go to! They don't get to the end of it then wonder how they're going to pay the bills next month, they job hunt with about three months to go. We'd expect no different and wish them well.

Congratulations! Same thing happened in my work. No problems at all. She worked until a couple of weeks before due date then there was a short gap before original staff member returned.