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Original poster

Job interview…. They don’t know I’m pregnant Help please.

28 replies

BeYourLongLostPaal · 15/07/2021 10:12

Good morning. I’m currently working as a cleaner contracted out via a company to work in an office than deals with IT. I’ve recently found out I’m expecting however I’ve always expressed that I would like to work in the IT industry and I took this cleaning position as a foot in the door as I have no previous experience. I’ve been offered a job interview. Which is looking increasingly likely I will get offered the position however, I am currently 6 weeks pregnant. If I don’t tell them I run the risk of being offered the position and them being really pissed off when I tell them and the. Not being entitled to any maternity pay. However I’m wondering if I would be entitled to maternity allowance.
Or do I come clean to both my current employer and my new potential employer and find out what happens.
I really really want this job. But at what cost.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated

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thingymaboob · 15/07/2021 10:16

Don't tell them. You're under no obligation to say anything. You're really early in your pregnancy. Although it is illegal for them to not offer you the job because you're pregnant, they might find another excuse. Once you're in the job and have a contract, you'll have rights. Don't potentially disadvantage yourself for the sake of being honest.

Mylittlesandwich · 15/07/2021 10:19

Don't tell them. You don't need to. They may be fine with it or they may suddenly discover that you're not the best candidate for other, mysterious reasons. Give yourself the best chance. If you do get the job and then go off on may leave you'll have years working for them when you're back (if you like it). Women have children, it's part of life and not something you need to share with them until much further down the line.

Tibtab · 15/07/2021 10:21

You don’t need to legally tell them until the end of week 25. However as you are already pregnant you won’t have worked 26 weeks for the company before this date and won’t be eligible for SMP:
www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/eligibility

It’s likely that you will be eligible for MA if you meet the following criteria:
www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility

expectinglittlebear · 15/07/2021 10:22

Do not tell them!! Legally you don't need to inform your employer until 15 weeks before due date anyway.

It is illegal for any employer to discriminate because you are pregnant, but as a pp said, they may find another excuse to not hire you if you tell them now.

Get your foot in the door, get the job, and get your contract!! Once you have a contract, check the maternity pay that they offer and then when you are ready, inform them of your pregnancy.

Cheerio21 · 15/07/2021 10:23

Don't tell them op.
As per others you don't need to right now

cloudsinjuly · 15/07/2021 10:30

Echoing all pps. You do not have to tell them and don't or you may be discriminated against.

You have done nothing at all wrong. Women can get pregnant, fact. Society as a whole benefits from women having children and society as a whole bears the costs.

Individual companies by choosing to operate have a legal and moral responsibility to employ pregnant women and manage the consequences of pregnancy.

Not many things make me rage more than women being made to feel guilty about being pregnant:-(.

Congratulations op!!! And good luck with everything.

Constellationstation · 15/07/2021 10:34

Don’t feel obliged to tell them. As you’re only 6 weeks it’s very feasible that you wouldn’t know yourself yet anyway, so they have no right to be pissed off.
As Tibtab says though, I don’t think you’ll be entitled to maternity pay.

Jaymar · 15/07/2021 10:35

Good luck op! I would also suggest that you don’t tell them during your probation period if possible.

Original poster
BeYourLongLostPaal · 15/07/2021 10:51

Thanks everyone, my first thought was to hide it until either id have my interview and not been successful, or if I am just leave it a month and then tell them I had no idea lol!

Even if I’m only entitled to MA which it looks like I do meet the criteria anyway. This job is an extra 20k a year above what I’m earning now. So I can always save and put some money aside for my maternity.
Also the position will be mostly working remotely from home so the chances of them seeing a growing bump is nil really…

OP posts:
Onthegrid · 15/07/2021 11:09

Another vote for don’t tell them, get the job, save the money enjoy your Mat Leave then go back and enjoy your career

As a manger with hiring responsibilities, yes it is a minor annoyance, but take this example in the last 12 months I have filled one position 4 times, first person decided to leave after 3 months to become a SAHP, next person in the vacancy stayed 6 months then found another job, person 3 is good, so good she has been promoted so we are filling the position again

Constellationstation · 15/07/2021 11:10

Amazing pay increase! Good luck!

dementedma · 15/07/2021 11:20

Going against the flow here, but I think you should be honest about your pregnancy.

SunAndSea37 · 15/07/2021 11:24

Congratulations! I'm in the same boat. I got offered a job after a three month recruitment process and found out I was 4 weeks pregnant the same morning. I decided to tell them because I could then gauge their reaction as to whether the move would work for us all before I accepted. Luckily they were really flexible and wonderful about it and it gave me the confidence I needed to go ahead as I was so nervous about saying - plus I think they valued me being upfront about it. But completely up to you and as the others say you are under no obligation to disclose it.

Unfortunately I don't qualify for any enhanced pay however or even SMP, but you will get Maternity Allowance. But the pay bump also made it worth it for me.

All the best with your pregnancy! xx

Tina8800 · 15/07/2021 11:27

Take the job, don't tell them. I started a new teaching job in a new school when I was 5 weeks pregnant. I told them last week ( week 13) so they can prepare for next semester. They were extremely nice and understanding, while I was expecting the worst.
Why should you be honest? Noone is going to hire you if you are pregnant, why would they? But if you already in, they can't let you go because of it. Think about you first and what is the best for the baby in a long run, not about your future boss and workers.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 15/07/2021 11:38

@dementedma

Going against the flow here, but I think you should be honest about your pregnancy.
Of course she should be honest about her pregnancy. However, I don't think there is any need to mention it until after the interview/job offer.

I interviewed for my current job at 4 months pregnant. I said nothing. I got the job and started it at 5 months pregnant and told them a week or two before starting. It was not a problem. I'm still there 20 years later so they have more than got their money's worth out of me.

Maternity leave is a relatively short period (much shorter in my day though Smile). Any company that takes a longer term view will not pass up on a decent employee on the basis of a short period of leave.

Kirky658 · 15/07/2021 17:53

Don't tell them. I made the exact same mistake in February at 7 weeks pregnant, aced the interview, job looked like it was mine. Then I told their HR dept. I was pregnant and they literally ghosted me and I never heard from them again.

Gooseberrypies · 15/07/2021 17:56

@dementedma

Going against the flow here, but I think you should be honest about your pregnancy.
There are literally zero benefits to OP if she tells them this early. She may not get the job anyway, or (god forbid) something bad could happen re the pregnancy. The only thing that could possibly change would be that they would discriminate against OP (and obviously find another excuse).
MilduraS · 15/07/2021 18:03

My colleague found out she was pregnant the day she was offered her job. She took it anyway and nobody was bothered because she's fab at her job. She wasn't eligible for maternity leave though.

MilduraS · 15/07/2021 18:03

That should have read maternity pay 😭

onceivepostedidontcomeback · 15/07/2021 18:07

You're not bound to tell them but you should tell them - says so much about your character if you're up front.

Narwhalsh · 15/07/2021 20:12

Don’t tell them-they won’t want to be in the position of knowing at interview

Original poster
BeYourLongLostPaal · 02/08/2021 18:47

I had my interview today. I’m fairly confident I have the position. 8+4 days now. I have a 4 week notice period to work anyway. Is it possible I could hide a bump …. Till say 16-20 weeks

OP posts:
GintyMcGinty · 02/08/2021 18:50

You are under no obligation to tell until you are 26 weeks pregnant.

In my last pregnancy I didn't tell until I was 24 weeks pregnant. I wore floaty cardigans and if I had to walk around the office I just carried a folder in front of me.

The only downside is that it meant I had to use annual leave for antenatal appointments because they didn't know I was pregnant it meant I couldn't get the time of as paid.

Good luck.

SW1amp · 02/08/2021 18:50

Is it your first pregnancy?
If so, it’s easier to hide it with clever dressing

Subsequent pregnancies, probably less so
I popped at about 12 weeks 2nd time round and there wasn’t much that could be done to hide it after that, especially in the afternoons..!

Original poster
BeYourLongLostPaal · 02/08/2021 18:59

@SW1amp no this is my second pregnancy. Which is why I’m crapping it 😂😂

OP posts: