New Job Dillema Need Urgent Advice Pls!

[AJT87]

Hi, this is my first post and I'm after a bit of help. I found out I am 5 weeks pregnant yesterday which is really great news but then today I have been offered a new job which I have been interviewing for for the last month. The new job is double my current salary which will be really helpful to my family but I will be on probation for 3 months and starting in a months time. I'm worried about starting this new job then having to tell them I'm pregnant. If I tell them during my probation period I'm scared that they will find a way to sack me which will leave me in a worse position than I am currently in. Its a question of taking this new job with a lot more money which will benefit us in so many ways but leaves me scared of getting the sack or staying in my current job which is a lot less money but is stable.

I really want to take the new job as I have recently passed an exam for it which I have studied for over the last 2 years. I'm just worried about the timing of it all, and what would be the best decision to take.

I appreciate any help or advice anyone can give and thanks for reading my post.

How long would you take off? Would you return full time?
Is there work you couldn't realistically do/finish in the pregnancy time left? Are they known to be difficult about pregnancy?
So many things to consider.

realistically would like to take of the full 52 weeks mat leave.
no all work I could do up until my mat leave starts.
i have no idea how they will react that's why i'm so worried in what to do?

I wouldn't then. I just couldn't work for a few months and then take a year off. I don't know whether you would be more likely to be sacked. Me though, I'd put the plans on hold. You aren't going to get much money for the maternity leave anyway so the extra salary would only benefit you for a few months. Congratulations on the baby.

They can't discriminate against you for being pregnant, so legally they can't fire you just for that. It really does depend on you though as to what you do - legally you are perfectly entitled to take the new job and take the full 52 weeks off but personally I couldn't go off on maternity leave for longer than I'd even been doing the job for. Would you feel better about taking it if you went back earlier, after 6 months for example?

Would you feel able to tell them about your pregnancy at the same time you accepted the job offer? I think I'd be tempted to talk it through with them. And be prepared to go to tribunal if they withdraw the offer because of the pregnancy, frankly.

FWIW I once appointed someone to a role in my team when she was visibly really very pregnant, she came back after 9 months off - though I am pleased to work in a large organisation which prides itself on enlightened employment practice, TBH.

If it's a large and reputable employer your should be ok, but it is risky. As nfk says you will get less maternity pay than you would with your current employer though, so need to take that into consideration.