Due to start a new job at 13 weeks pregnant - do I stay or do I go?

[HopefulRose]

I’m in a right middle and have no one to talk to about this apart from my husband and mum!

I was offered a great job and around a month later I found out I’m pregnant. The job involves commuting into London and is shift work. The pros are it’s a big company, is a step up and has more resource than where I am now.

But I’d be starting week 13 of my pregnancy. This is my first pregnancy. My industry isn’t exactly known for being a great or welcoming environment for women who are pregnant. Worried about how I will cope balancing a new job (however great) plus commuting and the general new-job-anxieties.

The job I’m currently in is comfortable. The workload is demanding and I don’t get a lot of support from my colleagues or management. But I’m wondering if it’s best to stay put as at least I can wfh currently which means no travel and no dog Walker.

But then that means putting my career on hold.

Has anyone been through something similar? Any pearls of wisdom?

Thank you! X

stay put for maternity pay!! assuming your company has company maternity pay?!

i would absolutely not move while pregnant, you have 6 months left at most anyhow before you go, so honestly i would stay!

Also be aware you won't get SMP if you change job. If you change job you could claim maternity allowance instead but won't get the 6 weeks at 90% pay if you do.

I wouldn't move jobs in your circumstances unless I totally loathed the job I was currently in.

Have you accepted the one and resigned from the other? I don't know how fixed that is but if you have agreed to leave then I think that's probably a done deal?

If you haven't, you need to look into how long you need to work for an employer to qualify for maternity pay be it SMP or MA. There's something on the .gov site that lets you work out how much you'd be able to claim, one tier of MA is basically the same as SMP but there are also tiers where it's barely anything. I'll try to find it for you.

I love the energy you came with in the reply 🙏 that’s a really good point. Thank you!

Sadly the maternity package where I’m at currently is dire. Six weeks at 90pc and then statutory. There is also the risk they’ll make me redundancy while I’m on Mat leave but I suppose I could worry about that when it happens ..

www.gov.uk/maternity-paternity-pay-leave

My resignation has been accepted and is all done and dusted! I could have a conversation with my line manager but I couldn’t guarantee they’ll let me stay. Had a look at the new company, I’d have to be there a year to qualify for benefits 😢

I work in London for one of the Big 4 companies. I just started the job 2 months ago and just found out I'm 4 weeks pregnant. I'm not sure of your industry, but the workload in mine is a lot and I'm really struggling to keep up due to tiredness and nausea this week kicking in. And plus, I agree that big companies are not the most family friendly - I am terrified to let my boss know!

I hope whatever you choose to do it works out for you, but if you've been offered it now, you'll most likely be able to get it again sometime in the future! Good luck! X

I started a new job when I was at a similar point. My old job was awful so staying there was not an option. I kept it quite until my 20 week scan. My boss was really understanding when I told her. I only get maternity allowance, but if I'd stayed in my old job I would have only got statutory anyway, which is not much different.

Sounds like you'd have to apply for Maternity Allowance then which is a fixed amount (same as the standard SMP amount) but without 6 weeks at 90 %