Has anyone accepted a new job when pregnant?

[Sxp842]

Hi all

im writing this post very tentatively, as I just got a positive pregnancy test yesterday but it is still very early days. I have also just been offered a really good job - more money and the kind of work I want to be doing

however, I’m nervous about accepting a new job given I have just found out I’m pregnant.

It’s so early to tell anyone. I work in law and we have a 3 month notice period and 6 month probation periods. if I accept the job now I’ll be 3 months into the pregnancy when I start the new role, and by the time I go on maternity leave I’ll be coming up to my probation. Financially, we will miss out on maternity pay but we will be fine.

I think I’m nervous that they will find an excuse to get rid of me or be annoyed that I didn’t tell them I’m pregnant. But I’ve experienced a miscarriage before so I’m reluctant to say anything. It also means I’m reluctant to put my life / career on hold when there’s a chance this pregnancy might not work.

if I had to stay in my current job I probably could (and there are lots of reasons to - I’ve been there long enough to build up good will, I would get maternity pay, I’m on track for promotion). But the work/life balance has got bad, I’m constantly stressed, changes in management haven’t been great, and I’m just ready for a change.

If anyone has experience of changing jobs when you have just found out your pregnant, I’d be really interested to hear the good and the bad. Particularly in fields like law.

I suppose I’m looking for reassurance that times have moved on and they won’t use pregnancy as an excuse to get rid of me - but if anyone has had negative experiences it would be good to know.

Hi, not quite the same but I started a new job and found out I was pregnant 1 week after starting.

I was really worried about telling them that I was pregnant with like yourself been in a 6 month probation. But due to the heat wave we had last month I had to tell them earlier than I wanted to because I was really struggling.

They were totally fine about it saying these things happen and that nothing would change from their point of view and just to let them know if I needed any assistance with anything.

I did this! I think I was about four weeks pregnant when I accepted the job. I waited to tell them until after my probation was over -- three months I think. In fact, I think I waited longer than that because I wanted to be there a bit longer before breaking the news.

Everyone was absolutely lovely about it. I'm sure there may have been a few rolly eyes (I'm just guessing) but as far as being treated fairly and with respect it has been really good. If it's a decent company they will understand!

Thanks for the replies - it’s really encouraging to read!

I think I am a bit nervous about going on mat leave just as my probation ends as that seems like a really easy way to get rid of me, but there isn’t really a way around it. It’s also really difficult to know what the culture of the team is like, but I know the team is quite young and pretty much all female so hopefully that helps.

i couldn’t have timed this better if I tried! Lol

You shouldn’t be made to feel bad about this, you are entitled to have a family and you have worked hard to have a good career. Being pregnant, going on maternity leave and having a baby is just a small period of your life, you could be in this job for years. I would accept the job and tell them as soon as you feel comfortable, explain you wanted to tell them as soon as you found out but the anxiety of your previous miscarriage stopped you until you were out the danger zone and knew everything was good. Hope everything works out for you and congratulations x

Me. Was 12 weeks at interview and 20 weeks when I started. Told them at 22 weeks. The job was hideous. I resigned during my mat leave, but still had to come back to work my notice. I was on mat leave and pregnant with DC2 when I interviewed for my new job. I told them I was pregnant. I got the job. So I went back to job 1 3 months pregnant with DC2, left after 6 weeks and did 4 months at job 2 before going on mat leave. I’m NHS. They are generally desperate for staff and all the benefits transfer between jobs.

Hi OP. I started with a new firm five weeks ago and found out I was pregnant two weeks ago so basically fell the week I started - it was our first cycle and didn't expect it to happen. A family was always on the cards for me and I spoke to a couple of recruiters about timing before committing to a move because I didn't want to hold off. They assured me that firms are becoming increasingly family friendly and it wouldn't be a problem. They said a year of mat leave is not a long time for the right person, particularly where certain types of lawyers are in short supply so they're happy to wait. My firm offer enhanced maternity benefits from day one and I know others do the same. My DH at another firm gets paternity benefits to rival a lot of mat leave. I think there's definitely been a recent shift and recognition that firms need to do what they can to support new families and keep talent in the profession. Like you, I'm worried about breaking the news so soon after starting but I need to trust they'll be good about it, I've no reason to think otherwise.

Thanks everyone, this is making me feel much better about taking the job. Especially your experience of law firms. It feels like a risk, but one that is probably worth taking.

I definitely won’t be entitled to enhanced maternity pay - I know someone who works at the firm so I’ve managed to see their mat policy. You have to work there for 2 years before you qualify, which is a very long time compared to other places! But I think we will be ok financially, and hopefully it means I will qualify if we have another child.

now that i have received the job offer I’m tempted to tell them I’m pregnant before accepting so I can gauge their reaction - if they react badly it probably isn’t the sort of place I want to be. But I don’t know if it’s good idea, maybe it’s better to just accept the job and tell them when I am further along and have worked there for a bit