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!

My counterpart went on maternity leave and we got someone in to cover her. The replacement staff member was made aware that the job would likely become permanent, it just needed budget approval closer to when she was due to leave (about 3/4 months before the end of her contract). The replacement didn’t get pregnant but she hated the job, turned down the permanent contract and left 2 months before the end of her contract as she had a new job. Who is irresponsible in that situation? The person who took the job, hoping for something great or the shit employer that manages to put someone off after 7 months? People leave jobs for all sorts of reasons. People working fixed term contracts definitely tend to leave earlier, if they can. I’ve had a few fixed term contracts and usually left before the contract ends, with the exception of 1 as I couldn’t find a job. It was really stressful getting to the end of my contract and knowing I had no job (I managed to get a job with 3 days left on my contract).

Congrats OP.

Thank god for Employment rights and especially for the protections for pregnant women.

No you don't 'owe' your employer anything. We have lost some worker rights with employers able to terminate employment for no reason (outside protective characteristics) .. under two years employment. It's a contract not a prison sentence you owe your employer nothing..

Stick it out till at least July though for maternity /paternity pay ...

I'm sure it won't be an issue that you can't switch on a couple of machines. Just tell your manager that you are pregnant and your due date fits in close to when you'll be finishing along with a couple of weeks holidays. Just wondering though, the person you are covering for, are you covering in the event that they take the full 52 weeks off? They might not. A lot of women go back after 39 weeks when the maternity pay stops so there may be a time that your manager has you and the original person there anyway so you leaving a few weeks before your end date might not be an issue at all or the other person covering the rest of the days may be happy to do your days too. It doesn't sound like it will be an issue

@YappityYapYap Thank you for your reply, yes she has us for 52 weeks so that's true I didn't think of that! It definitely won't be so much of an issue as it's not like I'm saying I'm pregnant and leaving soon - thank you I really appreciate the replies xx

Congratulations OP! Can't believe some of the messages you're getting. The original worker could come back from maternity at ANY TIME and you'd be out on your arse. I'm sure they won't get rid of you, they'd be training someone else up then but I hope the conversation goes well

I'm cover a maternity role at the moment and if my ivf cycle had just worked I'd potentially have been in the same situation assuming the original worker took the full year. All that would be left to cover is the equivalent of a long holiday, as I've covered for others umpteen times. Not a big deal.

Workers go off all the time with sickness, bereavement, maternity, paternity, new jobs, secondments, promotions, retirement, being fired, medical appointments etc. This isn't a women of child bearing age issue. Until the robots take over businesses have to deal with it.

And again, we wonder why employers don’t like hiring women of child bearing age? It’s people like you who do a disservice to the rest. Can we really blame them faced with this attitude?

No, I don't wonder this. And yes, I can blame them. Thankfully I dont work for a company that thinks like this, I imagine if I did it would turn me into a very bitter person

Ignore all the haters, irresponsible would be getting knocked up on a drunken one night stand with a stranger. You and your partner are simply growing your family like many other couples out there. Your boss can't sack you for being pregnant - imagine the tribunal 🤣 - and you will be fulfilling your contract, so nothing to worry about there. But please tell your boss about your pregnancy if it means there are certain tasks you can no longer perform, as your employer needs to safeguard you and your baby. Good luck!!

if you have under 2 years of service, they can get rid of you easily in any case.

They cannot dismiss you because of pregnancy but that can be hard to prove.

If you can, I would keep it to myself a bit longer.

And congrats

I would wait until you've confirmed a viable pregnancy at 12 weeks or so first.

In any case they can't get rid of you but they could try and performance manage you out depending on the industry. Employers can be unscrupulous (big or small).

Can't believe the comments on here the pregnancy threads aren't usually like this 🤦 anyway op congratulations !!!! A lady at my work fell pregnant while covering mat leave boss was absolutely fine about it no problems at all wishing you all the best

Congratulations OP. Ignore the naysayers.

Congratulations OP, what a beautiful blessing ! You must be over the moon after having such a rough time last time ! Just be honest with your employer they can’t discriminate and it isn’t like you’ve only just started and got pregnant immediately, even then it’s your choice and your life . We all sign contracts but what’s the difference between signing a contract and leaving because you’ve found a better job, and getting pregnant ? Seriously people need to stop stressing over it it’s not their problem anyway! Huge congratulations and I’m so happy for you! I started a new job in December (albeit same department but it was a new contract), when I started I had no idea I was pregnant . 2 weeks in I found out I was 6 weeks. They were fine , I told them immediately and they just laughed 🤣

@itsemily Thank you!! We do feel so truly blessed and so excited to become a family of 4 - I have felt stressed about telling them but it's taking away how exciting this all is and I've given my head a huge shake this week. It's a job and a short term contract, worse things in life are happening!!
😂 I hope my manager is like that 🤞🏼

Thank you for a lovely message xx

@Babyg1995 I know!! I haven't ever posted asking for advice and now I know not too on here 🤦🏻‍♀️ But I hugely appreciate the helpful messages & well wishes! Thank you so much xx

Ah you will be time.
You are due only a couple of weeks before your contract ends.
Baby might be late, and the person you are covering might be keen to come back a little early.

Thank you all again for your replies! I spoke with my manager yesterday and she was absolutely over the moon for us & gave me a huge squeeze and said don't be so silly when I said I was worried to tell her!! 😊

@Holly3 congratulations!
Who knows how long it will take to conceive? People can't put it off because of short term jobs.
The job was started in good faith.
I was in exactly the same position. I accepted a one year contract and must've got pregnant around the time I had the interview. The alternative was no job, no income and no guarantee of pregnancy.
I would tell them if your safety or that of the baby is compromised. They might get rid of you, but you'll have been honest throughout.

Hi, they cannot get rid of you due to pregnancy so dont worry about it at all. I work in HR and this does happen ALL the time (honestly). Legally you are protected. If they try to terminate your contract all you will have to do is make the legal position clear (they are very unlikely to even try). I would tell them as soon as you feel comfortable, not just for your health but because being open and honest usually makes things easier for work to wort out.

Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck.

Sorry missed your update, well done!

Morning! I just wanted to say I told my director last week too and she was over for the moon for my little family - and the lady I'm actually covering for on her maternity leave may not be wanting to return now at all so they have offered me that if that happens they'd like to offer me a contract and maternity leave myself! Over the moon ❤️

Congratulations @Holly3 (some of the comments on here are ridiculous) so happy for you

@Quiffy Aren't they just! I'm glad they aren't my employer 😆 Thank you! A huge weight has been lifted xx

@Holly3 Exactly, at the end of the day a job isn't going to celebrate mother's day with you or get excited at Christmas with you. Plus, people leave jobs all the time for all sorts of reasons, it's just a part of being an employer. You never even know when a job will go either, companies go bust all the time so it be daft to put your life on hold. Even better, your work are happy for you and want to put in steps to bring you back! Now you can enjoy it

@Quiffy Very true!! One of my friends recently left her job after a few months due to childcare becoming too expensive, life happens! And when I said to both my bosses I was worried to tell them, they both said they would never ever want any employee to feel that way! So I'm over the moon 😊

Congraulations, just had a read on what people said ,shocking that people gave u a hard time, its about time MN got rid of them . Glad it all worked out for u, it is scary having to tell a work place.x