But I really want to leave my job…

[EchoAlpha]

So I’ve found out I’m pregnant (v happy, had a MC a year ago and was a while to pick up and get to this point)… I’ve been applying to roles for a while and feel like I’m v close to something I’ve worked so hard for and is ideal for what I want in the long term but what do I do now?!
My current employer has a top mat policy (6 months full pay and 3 months quarter and rest SMP). If/when I get an offer, do I tell them and try to convince them to make me eligible for their mat policy or could this be too risky? Could it be too much to start a new job and also be pregnant? I don’t want to risk anything during probation.
I can’t really afford to just be reliant on SMP. I don’t want to promise I will go on mat leave for 6 months, as it’s my first but could I use that to convince them?
I just hate the idea of staying at my current employer but can see it’s a sensible choice. It’s not bad to add years to my experience but I work in a high pressure environment and dislike the culture in my team.

Why are decisions like this so hard?!

Congratulations! It sounds like a really hard decision. It completely depends on your financial situation and also how many opportunities like the one you have on the horizon come up. It's unlikely a new employer would change their policy to allow you to qualify for their enhanced mat pay so most likely you will be on SMP if you leave your current role. I also wouldn't promise to take less than a year if that's not what you want. You are legally entitled to the full year off and honestly, no one at work is going to reward you for taking less than that. Your legally protected time off to care for your baby should not be a bargaining chip and if a new employer used it as one that would be a red flag to me .

Congratulations :) I was in a similar position earlier this year. I found a perfect job but I wouldn’t have ended up with any enhanced mat pay (I was about 8 weeks at the time but it didn’t start until I would have been 34 weeks). I didn’t apply for it in the end as I’m generally happy where I work and it would have been a squeeze financially. I don’t regret it as my employer has been amazing with supporting me through this pregnancy. I suppose it depends how happy you are in this current job and if you feel like you could cope without the extra money on Mat leave. It’s unlikely for them to offer you enhanced pay as I imagine they would then have to do it for everyone.

Hi @EchoAlpha , firstly congratulations on your pregnancy.

I am in a very similar situation, I love my team and my job, but a very good opportunity arose before I knew I was pregnant and now I am also not sure what to do.

in terms of Mat pay, if you change employer while pregnant, you won’t qualify for SMP, but may do for maternity allowance so that’s something to give consideration to. You have to have worked for your employer for 26 weeks by the 15th week before EWC for SMP.

I worked out that, if I change jobs, it would be around £3,500 less over the year as it’s better paid so I could save a bit more between now and going on Mat leave. But in my head, I know it’s not the right time for me.

How flexible is your current employer with time off for sick children etc? My work is super flexible and that’s something else to bear in mind, when you return you may need some flexibility while you adjust.

let me know what you decide 🙂

Congrats!

Unless you are very desirable as an employee, in my experience it would be unlikely a new employer would agree to extend their maternity policy to you if you are pregnant before you join - as they then have to pay for your leave AND pay for your mat cover, when they have not had the benefit of you working there for long. You could ask, but it's not likely. And the new employer would only pay you the Enhanced Maternity Pay, not SMP as you wouldn't be eligible (you are only eligible for MA as pp says). Many Maternity Policies don't pay much above SMP in the first part of your leave, only topping up in the last 3 or 6 months of your year's leave. So you might not get as much as you hope, be careful.

Personally I'd stay at current employer and take my chances another job comes up in a year or so.