New job - just found out I'm pregnant

[JC084]

So, as the title says - I've had an Interview this week and we are just confirming the details but it all looks very positive. They want me to start asap.
I also found out at the weekend I am pregnant - 5 weeks tomorrow.
I was made redundant at the end of last year and so have been looking for a job since the start of the year.
I know I don't need to tell them about baby for some time yet, but I feel really guilty.
However, I wouldn't want to turn it down as a) I need a job and b) I've had 3 losses in the last 6 months and so I know there is always a chance of not progressing.

Any advice would be very much appreciated x

Most people don't know at 5 weeks. You say yourself might not progress. Start asap as they want. You are already redundant, any money you make will help make you entitled to maternity allowance and allow you to save for baby. Take the job.

I agree with the above comment. See how things progress with your pregnancy. Don’t feel guilty! You’ll be entitled to Maternity Pay once you get going. Good luck with both baby and job

Thank you both. I think I know the answer is to just take the job and let them know further down the line. I think I overthink too much and worry about what others will think 🙈
Thank you

People take parental leave. Even if you turned it down, next person could also be pregnant. Even if it was a man, his wife could have a higher paid job and be pregnant and he could be taking shared parental leave! It's part of life and generation of the workers and customers of the future. Do your best, they can still have 8 months of really good work out of you and you can return after mat leave and work there many more years!

You'll be entitled to maternity allowance, OP, which is less than SMP. You won't be entitled to statutory maternity pay. Just something to bear in mind, finance wise.

Only difference is the first 6 weeks of 90% pay. Its better than the nothing she currently gets as she's currently unemployed. I've worked for an employer that gives occupational maternity pay from day 1 of employment. Depends on policy.

Like I said.. it's less. And if an employer wants to give enhanced maternity pay they can do, but there's nothing wrong with me warning the OP so she can plan accordingly.

We had this situation (local authority) it didn’t go down well with management. They tested her very badly. No empathy whatsoever.

It later transpired this poor woman had suffered many late miscarriages and this is why she hadn’t said anything, perfectly understandable. She did go on to have a successful pregnancy and found a much better job abroad.

I would personally pretend to be very shocked when you do tell your employer, so as not to hamper any future progression in the company.

When I fell pregnant I didn’t find out myself until about 5/6 weeks in (we weren’t trying). I didn’t tell my employer until I was four months pregnant. I don’t think there should be any pressure to say anything unless it’s a physical job, then I guess you may have to. It can be a very emotional time, worrying etc. No doubt if men were the ones carrying a baby things would be much different!

Good luck OP with the pregnancy and the job.

*Treated.

Thank you. You're 100% right. I need to stop worrying 🙂

@FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant @NamingConundrum thank you both. I think I'd almost feel better if it's just maternity allowance as then the company won't have to go through all the admin of claiming back as I get direct from govt I think?
I know I'll miss out on those 6 weeks at 90% but it's not the end of the world. I've been managing on next to nothing since being made redundant anyway.

Thanks both for the advice

@Missingmyusername thank you - that's my concern. Given my history I know it can go either way. However, also not sure how the business will feel when I do break the news to them. But - it's life I guess isn't it. I suppose in 6 months someone might decide they don't like a job and leave anyway. Would be no different

Don't feel guilty or sorry for the company. Pregnancy is part of life, employers know this.

Yes that's right, the company won't be able to claim anything back anyway as you aren't eligible for SMP so it would be MA or the employers goodwill to pay you something extra off their own back.
Good luck with whatever you decide though, all the best :)

Hi OP
I had exactly the same experience as you when I was pregnant with my DD. I found out I was accepted following an interview on a Wednesday...found out I was pregnant on the Saturday. I'd had a MMC a few months before so was excited but also very anxious.
It also took a few months to get all the admin and HR stuff sorted for my new role so I was 16 weeks pregnant when I started. I told my team lead on my first day and, other than their plans for me changing slightly, they took it really well. This was in 2021 as well so, from 28 weeks pregnant, I had to be WFH due to COVID.
Also wasn't entitled to SMP (wasn't working for them for 26 weeks yet) so had to apply for maternity allowance at the last minute, but HMRC were so quick in setting that up (only took about a week or so).
I should also say, I work in the NHS and our whole team are females so everyone's used to maternity leaves etc.

My advice would say to let them know as early as you can (obviously when you feel comfortable doing so) so they can plan for these things.

Don’t turn it down.

i started a job on October 3rd 23 and found out i was pregnant October 20th 23 I am now 20 weeks pregnant.

i, like yourself was VERY nervous but i was nervous for NO reason. My manager took it SO well and has constantly checked in with me to see how I am and she seems genuinely excited for me.

my friend at work made a comment to me before I told my boss (btw she is a friend outside of work so don’t tell anyone else you’re pregnant there your boss needs to be the first to know)
anyway I was worried about my boss suddenly letting me go or finding a reason to sack me and my friend said ‘it’s so illegal to get rid of someone for pregnancy, it can lead to massive law suits. So much so that companies are more likely to be overly nice to you once finding out you’re pregnant as they do not want anyone thinking you’re being discriminated against for being pregnant’

and I honestly think that’s so true! Anyway I waited until 16 weeks and then said how I never knew and only just found out (this was easier for me as I didn’t suffer with morning sickness so I didn’t miss any work)
I just said it was a massive shock and I have irregular periods so it wasn’t what I expected (this part is true)

good luck! It’ll be fine x

You need the job so take it, you can always say you didn't know about the pregnancy when you accepted if anyone is funny about it. Hope all goes well for you!

This happened to me, I was so anxious about it too. I ended up telling them around 20 weeks , which obviously was still before the end of my probation. They were super supportive though and no issues passing probation etc. I’m not 38 weeks and about to start mat leave. Only really shit part of the whole thing is I only qualify for maternity allowance, which I think is really crap given that I have been working the entire way through my pregnancy, just happened to switch jobs at the worst moment 🙈

Definitely take the job and start ASAP. Even if you only get statutory mat pay; you can save over the next 8 months. I’m not sure the better option? Have no job?

This happened to me too, except I found out a couple of days before the interview. I went for it anyway, got the job and decided not to say anything until I start working there. I then ended up miscarrying at 6 weeks anyway, so I was happy I hadn't mentioned it. We decided to stop trying for 6 months until I had settled into the new job but I somehow became pregnant again, despite using contraception. Ended up turning up on my first day of work 4 weeks pregnant. Everyone was nice about it and I have been working there for 10 years (and counting) so far.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy 💐.

@JC084 Exactly. Anything can happen, I would 100% take the job.
I am management now and would be supportive of anyone in your shoes, but there can be some spiteful and mean spirited people out there. It’s your news for now, nobody else’s.

Thank you everyone for the advice. Appreciate it. Still feeling nervous but I'm going to go for it, as I can't predict the future and so who knows what will happen

Not quite the same but I started a new job and found out 4 weeks later I was pregnant.
I’ve been so anxious about it and I’ve only just told them at 23 weeks.
They were completely fine and supportive.
in fact, the lady in HR said she had been in my position before so understood how I felt, which made me feel better. We are all human at the end of the day!
Congrats and best of luck in the new job 😊

@Nightowly thank you - and congrats! Hopefully they will take the news ok 🤞🏼

So glad I found this thread I'm in a very similar position! Have been waiting for all checks to go through to start a new job, have told my current job I'm leaving but haven't handed in my notice yet and found out I was pregnant 3 days ago! My checks for the new job all completed yesterday!Have gone through every option countless times in my head so all the advice here has helped me as well!