Pregnant and looking for job

[NortWestmum]

Dear All,

This is my first post on Mum's net. I am stressed. I had a lovely three-year-old boy in March 2020, after which I decided to take a break from the corporate world and help my husband in his IT business. With the cost of living rising, I have decided to return to work. I just found out I am pregnant again. This is a total surprise. I am only four weeks pregnant. I need to work while pregnant. I do not expect the company to pay me while I am on maternity leave, as I understand that can be unfair to the company. How should I approach this situation? I am very stressed and unable to enjoy the good news.

I suggest interviewing and not mentioning the pregnancy until after you start. They should not discriminate against you due to pregnancy

I'm in a similar position. It is illegal to discriminate against women who are pregnant. Don't mention it at interview, you don't have to inform an employer until you are 25 weeks but you may want to tell them earlier to get time off for appointments and/or have a risk assessment in place.
If you are given a longer probation period, or fail probation or are disadvantaged in any way because you are pregnant you have a discrimination claim.
Check out https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/rights-for-parents-with-more-than-one-job/#:~:text=You%20will%20need%20to%20tell,employer%20that%20you%20are%20pregnant.

You are entitled to maternity leave from day 1 but you won't be entitled to Statutory maternity pay. You may be able to claim maternity allowance.

Good luck!

You could look at temping work too

Don’t change your plans, get a job if that’s what you want to do and don’t tell your employer until you need to. I found out I was pregnant shortly after signing a contract for new job, I’m not entitled to maternity pay through them but I can get maternity allowance through the government. I didn’t tell them until I had to, when I needed time off for appointments.

Thank you, Ladies. I am finding this whole situation so stressful. Wish me luck, and please pray for me.

Good luck with your job search. I totally agree with the other posters, you should just look as in you weren't pregnant and only tell them when you are legally required to. It annoys me to no end that it only affects us and add additional stress while we are already growing a human being inside us!

Most companies would have their own policy to 'protect' themselves from paying you while you are on maternity leave anyway (think you normally have to have worked at a company for half a year prior to your 15 weeks), so don't worry about affecting the company. Do what is best for yourself as the companies would do the same for themselves.