8 weeks pregnant, job offer, 6 months probation HELP PLS!!

[Harv2010]

Hi everyone! :-)

I'm new on here and I'm sorry if this post is long but I really need some advice.

I lost my job last year june and since then I have been going to so many interviews with no luck! last monday I had an interview which I thought went horribly wrong but they called me by the friday and offered me the job. However, on thursday I found out that I am expecting my second child!

I am so happy that I have been offered a job that I've always wanted and happy that I have been blessed with another bubba (had a miscarriage before) BUT I'm so scared of starting a new job already pregnant and having to tell them I'll be leaving soon. I mean they still need to do references etc so by the time I start I'll be 10/11 weeks!

I'm so afraid to tell them that I'm pregnant and will be leaving basically by the time my probation period is over. I feel like they will ask me not to come back! I'm so confused, one part of me wants to decline the offer and hope for the best in the future but the other part wants to go for it but I'm also feeling very weak, feel like sleeping all day!

I just don't know what to do. I hate letting people down and I feel like they will just assume I knew I was pregnant but lied to them during the interviews.

If anyone has any views about this please please share with me, I just want to hear if anyone else has ever been in this situation or any suggestions on what I can do.

Thanks in advance! :-) Mal x

Congratulations on the job and the baby!

It's unfortunate timing for your new employer but it's one of those things - it happens.

Don't decline the offer - you've been looking for a job for a year and now have one.

The extreme tiredness does improve - often women are full of energy during the second trimester, so if you won't start until you're 10/11 weeks pregnant I wouldn't worry about that.

They can't sack you for being pregnant, nor can they withdraw the offer (although I would not recommend telling them now anyway). You won't be entitled to statutory maternity pay but you are still entitled to maternity leave.

They might be irritated but in terms of what you can do - work really hard and make a really good impression during the 6-7 months you will be at work. Because it's very early in your employment that you'll be telling them/going on maternity leave, there's every chance they have good candidates who just missed out on the job still available, so it may be very easy for them to just offer one of them maternity cover as well.

Thanks so much for the advice! I really hope I will feel better by the time I start. I'm thinking to tell them when I am 16weeks and hope to work hard and prove to them that yes I was actually the best candidate. :-)