Started a new job on the day I found out I was pregnant

[Norma12345]

Hi all,

i started a new job today and i found out this morning that im pregnant. I’m around 4 weeks pregnant. My question is, when should I tell my employer? If my morning sickness is bad, can they sack me for taking time off, my probationary period is 6 months.

I have a mortgage to pay and I’m very scared right now.

They can't discriminate against you for being pregnant and you don't have to tell them until 15 weeks before your due date, so just tell them when you feel comfortable, that might be at 22 weeks, it might be sooner - but it's up to you.

This happens all the time and has happened a few times with people I've hired over the years (and has happened to me with this pregnancy!!), don't worry too much, I hope they would be supportive.

Congratulations by the way!

ACAS is an excellent resource:

www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights

Congratulations @Norma12345. I know it feels scary right now, but they can’t discriminate against you, so telling them earlier would be better. You won’t be eligible for SMP (unless you did another job with the same company without a break in service) but you may get MA if you meet the criteria.

I found out 2 months into my new job I was pregnant, they’ve been nothing but supportive

Thank you! I feel like my emotions are all over the place. Woke up at 1am feeling terribly sick!

the acas website is very detailed- thank you for that

Congratulations! Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I started a job more pregnant than that and it was all good. I wasted a lot of time worrying but everyone was lovely. I just told them when i think I was about 13 weeks and that was fine.

How did you deal with morning sickness at a new job?

im so worried the morning sickness will be severe and calling in sick / signed off in my probation period will get me sacked.

(I’ve had a miscarriage in the past but while pregnant my sickness was quite bad)

In that case @Norma12345 you may have to tell them that you're pregnant quite early, but please be assured that they CANNOT use this as an excuse to sack you, or treat you any differently, probation or not. You have automatic protection from day one. If anything if you are struggling you might be better to tell them so you can get the right support such as wfh or extra breaks.

Honestly this happens more often than you realise. I found out I was pregnant on day 3 of starting this job, and started mat leave last week. That's life! And having struggled with infertility, loss etc. I wasn't about to feel guilty about it. In fact my husband also started a new job and he's taking advantage of his company's 6 month paternity leave, 7 months after starting his job, does he feel a single bit guilty? Absolutely not! It hasn't even occurred to him to lol.

They may be a little surprised initially (and they can't show it!!) but then they'll work it out! It's ok OP, honestly. In a few years time this won't matter, focus on yourself and your pregnancy ❤️❤️❤️

Sorry to hear about your previous miscarriage, been there 💐

Congrats OP! 🎉
You're not alone as I'm about to be in your position too. I have only found out we are expecting and am due to start my new job in January - they've waited for me to complete a 3 month notice too! Let's just say that first month review will be interesting.

Remember your own life and health is more important than any job and they can't descriminate against you either.
I'm just teling myself my only saving grace is I've worked there before so hopefully if I'm sick they know it's genuine but its still a worry in the back of my mind as well as the btw I'll be finishing up in the summer even though I've just started.

Congratulations!!!

i had to tell my manager today as the morning sickness is already kicking in. They were totally fine about it. In fact, they didn’t seem phased at all. They congratulated me and said not to worry about a thing! I’m really happy but also a little anxious, I’m on a 6 month probation period and I’m worried if I have to go off sick they’ll just get rid of me. Nothing is more important to me than my baby.

@HelterSkelter224 thank you for sharing that with me! I told my manager today, she was totally fine about it, in fact she was quite supportive. The only thing I’m worried about now is that I’m on a 6 month probation period and I’m worried that I’ll be signed off sick before then (given how sick I’m feeling) and both my sisters had a tough pregnancy. Can they sack me for being signed off sick before my probationary period ends?

Absolutely not, and they won't. I'm glad your manager was supportive, although how nerve-wracking that conversation will have been! Hopefully sickness doesn't hit you too hard, and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy 🥰

If you have had a hard time previously go to the GP early.
I had a hard time with my daughter and my miscarriage with sickness and this time my GP has gone straight in with 2 antiemetics and it's helping more than when I have only had 1 previously

I rang the gp this morning and the receptionist told me to find a midwife local to me. I’m going to ring again in the morning and insist I see a gp