Got the job without telling employer I am pregnant

[Emma70459]

Hi ladies!
So I'm looking for advice desperately.
I'm currently 37 weeks pregnant and 3 weeks ago,I had an interview for a zero hour contract admin job. They asked if I was able to start work full time immediately and I said "I am able to work full time for now".
They couldn't see that i was heavily pregnant as the interview was done online.
I wasnt expecting to get the job,so naturally I was thrilled when I found out that I got it.
Now my line manager is asking if I am available to work next week but I will be on maternity leave from next week.
How do I tell her that as much as i would love to start working for her i cant otherwise i would lose all my SMP? But i would definitely want to start working as soon as my maternity finishes.

I didnt withhold information deliberately.

Yup you totally did!

Ah, I've just seen your update. Then more fool them for not reading your questionnaire properly!

It's standard practice not to look at the form before the interview, so as not to discriminate against disabled people.

I did read the OP's post that she has now submitted the form, not that she did before the interview. Irrespective, the employer should not review it before an interview.

They asked if I was able to start work full time immediately and I said "I am able to work full time for now"

But you can’t work full time for now as you are going on maternity leave. So you lied and misled them.

That was your opportunity to say ‘no I can’t stater until X date as that’s when I finish my maternity leave’

This is why employers prefer to hire men.

So did you declare you pregnancy back in March when you applied? Or just now being offered the job because depending that answers depends how you go forward.

This has got to be a wind up surely??

@WhySoSensitive

I read it that she filled in a questionnaire and said she was pregnant - one which employers don't read before interviewing in case they discriminate due to what's been written on it.....

Is this a bank position? If so be honest (don't bury it in a form), they may keep you on the books until you're available. However in such a scenario, it's normal that work will be allocated first to those who are regularly available.

So did you declare you pregnancy back in March when you applied? - she might not even have been pregnant at the time of applying.

They can't withdraw an offer because you're pregnant but they can withdraw an offer because you're not available to fulfill the requirements of the role i.e. presumably they want someone who can work but you'll be on maternity leave. Why on earth would you interview for a job at 37 weeks pregnant. You've just wasted everyone's time FFS.

@Emma70459

I have another job so I will be getting SMP from.there. As I said, I applied for the job in march and they interviewed me a few weeks back. I thought, why not as I had nothing to lose. If they had asked me to start work last week or even this week, i would have started. But my maternity starts next week so i cant do this. I dont mind doing unpaid work for them after giving birth on a part time basis? Do you think this would be reasonable?

There are laws regarding work, pregnancy and after childbirth. You can't just make shit up and the business has strict rules to adhere to for good reason. Is this your first baby?

It is a bank position. And like I said I dont mind doing unpaid work for them if they really need me to

Some people are not reading my post properly. I have another job, which I am qualified for SMP

This is a bit odd. Why did you say you would be able to work now. You can’t have been planning to work a week for them and then go off on maternity leave?

As for how do you tell them. You need to say sorry, I was misleading, I can’t start as I’m due to give birth in a couple of weeks.

You need to post in legal. Some experienced hr people there

Unpaid work? Why would you do unpaid work for another company whilst on maternity leave for another?

Is it the type of place you can do voluntary work?

@Emma70459

It is a bank position. And like I said I dont mind doing unpaid work for them if they really need me to

You're not allowed to work for a minimum of 2 weeks once baby is born I think, paid or unpaid.

But as you've already got a 2 y/o and a 1 y/o I'd say your hands will be pretty full and unless you've got great childcare I'm not sure how you'd fit extra work in, paid or unpaid tbh!?

Ok I will do this

Does your current job have contracted hours? If so I'm curious why you would apply for a zero hours contract position.

You need to reply, say you think some wires for crossed, you said on your form that you were pregnant and you are now going on maternity leave from X to X so can work after that date.
And hope they don’t remember that you lied in the interview.

Or is it a second job?

Well it's a bank position but I dont mind volunteering, I really need the experince. I wont be able to volunteer full time of course but I can volunteer every week

What a strange situation. What an interesting post. Does make one think.

I think, technically, they can't withdraw the job offer nor offer reduced hours but in a zero hours contract they're not obliged to offer you anything anyway. So from that perspective I think you're safe, BUT, you are not entitled to any maternity benefits from the new company and I think there are restrictions on how soon after the birth you are allowed to work? But who will have the newborn and your other kids if you go back to work two weeks post partum, whilst you're on maternity leave from your other job??

Sorry but I think your being rather sneaky and misleading here. How are you going to do a full time admin job with a newborn? Why apply in the first place? So many people out there would be glad of this job under the current circumstances.

Sorry OP I have just read your posting history and I think there are many more things currently that need sorting in your life quite soon and urgently and adding this sort of a situation in relation to work is not helping anyone.