Ok - would i be stupid if....................................(and i know the answer is going to be yes but please humour me!)

[Mandymoo]

I started my new part time job just 2 months ago and recently found out i am pregnant. According to my sums I will qualify for all the maternity allowances by just one week (ie, i would have been working there for 26 weeks by my 15th week prior to EDD)

BUT - i am really not settling into this job (it is within a very emotive and sensitive environment) and ever since i found out i was pregnant i've just lost all interest. It isnt just a part time job, it involves all sorts of training outside my normal days etc.

Basically, would i be stupid if i left this job and found another part time one? I KNOW THE ANSWER IS YES BUT JUST THOUGHT I'd TRY!!!!

Sorry dim about these things but how much loger do you have to work before maternity allowance and leave happens?

Another 6/7months!!! I know i'm being totally childish but i'm just getting so stressed out about this job and i know i'd be doing myself out of benefits but at the end of the day i just HATE my Job (along with most people i suppose so i should just grow up!)

stick it out, unless you don't need the benefits?

How important would the money be?

If the Maternity money is vital then sick with it

But if you can live without money then leave

stick it out, unless you don't need the benefits?
IMO Everything seems like too much work at the start of pregnancy - you'll have the same problem in another job.

doh!

Mandymoo - You can leave your job to go on Mat Leave anytime after 29 weeks. So if you're about 8 weeks pregnant just now.... then could you not just stick it out until 29 wks? Then at least you would get your 26wks money.... or more importantly the first 6 weeks at 90% pay.

My friend was 'let go' from her place of work when they found out she was already pregnant when she applied for the job..... I know it isn't PC... but in reality it will be very hard for you to find a job whilst pregnant.

So YES YOU'RE MAD!

Actualy, i think that you wouldn't be stupid at all to leave

Apart from the bonus of maternity allowance, which always comes in useful.
The thing is tho, if you're not happy there particularly and also having to do training outside normal days which is a pain normaly, never mind while being pregnant i think you would be better off finind a part time job that you enjoy. Happy mummy happy baby and stuff- it counts even while the baby is still being grown

I had a job i had just started when i found out i was pregant and i HATED it. I carried on, but was totaly miserable and i think i didn't enjoy my pregnancy as much because of the cloud that was work. I left when i was 7 months pregnant and i soooo wish i had left before. The differeance tho is that i didn't qualify for mat allowance, i just needed the money i earnt each month and wanted to cling on to independance for as long as possible

All in all tho, i know i would have been loads happier if i had quit and found a part time job i enjoyed.

It's up to you, but i would say if it makes you happy do it

(ooh i've really gone on! sorry!)

I know you're right - money is kind of important but my motto is that you live to your means and that we could readjust our lifestyle to accommodate the loss of money. But, for the sake of 7 months i guess its easier just to stick it out. I also have to go back for so long otherwise i have to pay my maternity pay back. Dont know how long i'd have to go back for tho. Dont really fancy going back to work with 2 children under 5 (my dh is a teacher so isnt exactly around a lot so i want to be 100% there for my family iyswim)

Will you want to return to work after the baby is born?
Its daft to leave as you will miss out on some benefits but i dont know enough to know if you will be entitled to state maternity benefit!
Life is too short to be unhappy!!
I would quit if you can afford to. you can find part time work up till baby is due maybe.

Mandymoo - You only have to go back if you will be receiving anything extra from the Company other than Statutory Mat Pay!!!!

Are you just getting the basic 6 wks @ 90% then 20 wks @ £102??? If so...... I can assure you you don't have to go back, or pay back anything!

Toothache - when you put it like that it doesnt sound soooooo bad!

Cat82 - even though i only work 2 days one week and 3 the next i find myself always thinking about it and it kid of just takes over my entire week.

Yeah, i know what you mean. Seriously i would leave, find something you enjoy better and can switch off from when you come home.

Toothache - i work for a county council so i need to download their maternity information from the intranet to know exactly what i'll be getting BUT i do know that if i take the extended maternity leave then i will have to go back or repay the allowance - i will look into it and let you know. Thanks for all your replies X

Just thought i should mention that its not that i dont want to work - i do. I just really cant get into this new job. I would certainly find another part time job (or even temp) if i left this one.

Ring your local Job Centre Plus and find out what you would be entitled to if you left. You might be entitled to Maternity Allowance anyway so you might not lose out. Get some advice before making any decisions. Good luck!

Mandymoo - That is the minimum you will receive unless you earn less than £102 per week. That is Statutory..... plus extended Maternity leave is anything above 6 months! After the 6 months Statutory Period you just inform your work that you are not going to be returning. As long as they have only paid you SMP and you give them the proper notice..... you have nothing to pay back ..... believe me, I've been there!

thanks morningpaper - its nice to have some supportive replies on here. DH just says to get on with it and thats that. No discussion. Thanks to you all for taking the trouble to read and reply. X

toothache - thank you! Will definitely look into it. X

Sorry to say this, but IME at eight weeks pregnant you are barely sane Your hormones are doing the hokey cokey, you feel murderously angry and incredibly maudlin by turns, and feel totally unreasonably irritated by everything (or was that just me?). In short, I really don't think anyone should make any kind of irreversible decision at 8 weeks pregnant. You should wait until you are four months pregnant, by which time, of course, you might as well stick it out to get your maternity benefits . So my advice is, grit your teeth and stay.

If I were you - I'd leave! You'd still get benefits and tax credits. No-one should hate their job so much it takes over your week - esp. when you are pg. Can they do an internal trf to another dept?
Don't waste your pregnancy being miserable!

Aloha and Kama - i am EXTREMELY hormonal!!! But i've never really settled into this job even before i knew i was pregnant. But i will look into all my options. Half of me thinks just to stick it out and stop being such a big baby and the other half thinks just to leave and find something else that i'm happy doing. I guess my option would be to temp which i love doing and have done it many times before. But at the end of the day i'll have to do whats best for my family. And that will probably be to stay where i am.

unfortunately!

TraceyK - which my dh had the same viewpoint as you! Thanks X