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Original poster

offered position and now informed me of pregnancy?

91 replies

harrogatemum · 19/07/2006 16:00

Hi - I am looking for some advice.

I have interviewed a lady twice for a position at the company I work for and just this morning offered her a position through a recruitment agency.

The recruitment agency rang me back to say that she would like to accept, but that she feels she should mention that she might be pregnant, although at this stage she isnt sure.

I know that I cannot discriminate against her and wouldnt want to as I have obviously already offered her the position. But does anyone else think this is a bit odd? Especially as she is currenty unsure about it?

I think its very honest of her to mention it also but it puts me in a bit of a funny position! Any thoughts/advice?

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 19/07/2006 16:01

It means she is

SoupDragon · 19/07/2006 16:03

It has to make no difference to your decision. At least she's mentioned it before accepting the position which IMO makes her honest and full of integrity.

bluejelly · 19/07/2006 16:03

I think it was good of her to tell you.
I would be happy to hire a pregnant lady.

SoupDragon · 19/07/2006 16:03

It could mean she's been TTC but hasn't done a test this month.

eenywifemum · 19/07/2006 16:03

I took a job and finally concieved after 4 years trying the first week at the new job. Slightly different situation there but the new employers have been a nightmare to me about it.

You are in a funny position... I wouldnt blame you for wanting to pull out of the offer but I dont know if you could be punished for that. Strange that she doesnt know yet, but still feels she should mention it?? Sorry that is no help but I wish you the best of luck.

eenywifemum · 19/07/2006 16:05

I agree that the honesty she has shown bodes well for the future. Better an honest pregnant woman than someone who wants to take advantage of you!

chai18 · 19/07/2006 16:11

It's unfair to expect a new employer to take on a pregnant employee.

You can't retract your offer but you can say goodbye at the end of the month without any reason.

Twiglett · 19/07/2006 16:13

you aren't in any position really though

you aren't legally allowed to retract the offer

of course it will probably be subject to a 3 month satisfactory trial so if she is unable to actually do the job that's a different matter

hotmama · 19/07/2006 16:24

I'm really surprised at these comments - if a man was writing them you would be calling him a sexist pig!

Yep - it probably will be a PITA - but she may really need this job and the cash that comes with it. I don't think she will be entitled to maternity pay or the right to return to you because I think you have to have worked for an employer for some many weeks before entiltements etc kick in.

Newsflash - Women have children, so they shouldn't get promoted or receive training when they are pregnant? God forbid that they may want flexible arrangements when they return to work.

You never know you may be pleasantly surprised - I think her upfrontness bodes well. She may go out of her way to be fab so you want her back after her maternity leave.

chai18 · 19/07/2006 16:44

Hotmama

"Yep - it probably will be a PITA - but she may really need this job and the cash that comes with it."

It's a job not a charity

"Newsflash - Women have children, so they shouldn't get promoted or receive training when they are pregnant? God forbid that they may want flexible arrangements when they return to work."

True and fair to expect from a current employer who should be investing in his workforce. It's a two way arrangement.

"You never know you may be pleasantly surprised - I think her upfrontness bodes well. She may go out of her way to be fab so you want her back after her maternity leave."

IMHO she had no choice but to declare at this point as would look awfully bad if she turned up pregnant without having mentioned it. She may not be legally required to but it would nontheless be awkward.

She may also be a total libertytaker who has no gratitude.

All in all unfair to a new employer.

sickandtired · 19/07/2006 16:46

I was offered a p/t position and then told the employer I was 5 months pregnant (2nd preganancy - erm - hello? r u blind!) they promptly wrote and said they had offered me a position, I had informed them I was pregnant and that they had reconsidered on this information and retracted their offer. I took them to tirbunal and one, and it didn't cost me a bean as I have an HR background - employers beware, you can not get away with discrimating against a pregnant woman

tenalady · 19/07/2006 16:47

harrogate, it could be that she is doing ivf and waiting for results, thats why she cant confirm it at the time. I have had this many times before. They dont have to disclose they are pregnant at the interview. I always used to cover it by asking is there anything that I should know about that might get in the way of them carrying out their duties? and hoped for an honest answer.

LeahE · 19/07/2006 16:58

I don't see that you are in a funny position. If you retract the offer now she can take you to a tribunal and win with one hand tied behind her back and standing on her head. If you followed chai18's charming suggestion and turfed her out on her ear at the end of a month she could take you to a tribunal and win with one hand tied behind her back (OK, maybe not standing on her head).

There's no reason to think she can't do the job. In fact, you're sure that she's the best person for the job. She'll cost you a lot less than if an existing employee with several years' service needed to take maternity leave (unless you have a statutory-minimum only maternity pay policy). And she might not even be pregnant.

I do think that if she's so early on that she's not even sure if she's pregnant yet she's been a little over-conscientious in telling you up front, but maybe she's had a bad experience in the past, or has a friend who's had a bad experience in the past, and doesn't want to give up her current job to be turfed out on her ear at the end of a month even if she could then take you to a tribunal.

flutterbee · 19/07/2006 16:59

I think you should carry on as if she hadn't told you. You have obviously done your homework on her as you have interviewed her twice and decided she would be the best person for the job.

I agree that it is a bit odd that she has told you she might be pg but at least she has told you their are many people who wouldn't have bothered.

dressedupnowheretogo · 19/07/2006 17:06

i lost my job in novemeber and then conceived by accident in the same month i was trying to get job up until i was six months and as iwas with the job centre i had to be upfront with employers and i only ever got two interveiws one of which was for our local store as a cashier and i didnt get a single one

i found it very hard to cope with the fact i was being discriminated agaiist as i have never previously had problems getting jobs

give this woman a try at least she has been honest from the beginning with you

iPodthereforiPoor · 19/07/2006 17:09

I was pregnant and didn't know when I get my last job, I was so gutted about having to tell my new boss 3months into my job that I needed to talk about the maternity policy.

I found they were great, but I am aware I caused a lot of disruption in the department. However, they said that I was still the right person for the job, and even if I had told them earlier it would not have been a problem. - I wish I' known sooner but thats a different topic.

I can't believe people think it would be right to either not employ or employ but let her go.

motherinferior · 19/07/2006 17:18

From the Equal Opportunities Commission website:

Since being offered a job I have discovered that I am pregnant. I told my employer and immediately the offer was withdrawn. Is this unlawful discrimination?
Yes, it is unlawful if the withdrawal is because you are pregnant. There might be a dispute over whether or not there was a firm job offer if you do not have written confirmation. You will need precise notes of when and who made the offer. Other evidence might be relevant, such as whether you were asked questions about childcare, or family plans at interview. This might lead a tribunal to infer a discriminatory attitude to mothers, or mothers to be.

Blu · 19/07/2006 17:30

Chai18 - I find it no surprise that you assume that the employer is investing in HIS workforce. And you are legally on v shaky ground if you let someone go without good reason and they are pregnant.
I am the director of an organisation, and, operationally, i would take a deep breath if a bran new employer became pregnant. But market success is based on competition, and if ALL employers are forced to comply with the laws forbidding discrimination then none will be disadvantaged.

However the number of pg women who know they have been denied jobs, promotion, pay rises tells us that plenty think like you, Chai.

WideWebWitch · 19/07/2006 20:05

Chai, I thoroughly disagree with your opinions. harrogatemum, of course you should give her the job! She's the best person for it! Yes, you'll have to cover mat leave, but so what? The logical conclusion to the 'not employing women because they're pregant' argument is

don't employ them because they might get pregnant
don't employ them if they have children
don't educate them

in short, discriminate! And people have children, not just women. and society as a whole NEEDS women to have children.

MrsJohnCusack · 19/07/2006 20:08

blimey chai what year is it down your way - 1900?

apart from the dubious morals of your arguments, it's illegal

SoupDragon · 19/07/2006 20:10

Chai, you said "She may also be a total libertytaker who has no gratitude". If she was, she wouldn't have mentioned the possibly pregnancy before accepting the job.

vitomum · 19/07/2006 20:13

Personally I would not have mentioned a pregnancy (or possible one) at this stage to a potential employer however she may have reasons for doing so. Maybe she is just naive, having second thoughts herself, anxious to demonstrate honesty, excited about a pregnancy or even just attention seeking? Whatever her reasons you can't really do anything about it though as you have alredy noted.

Marina · 19/07/2006 20:13

Wow chai, work for the Institute of Directors or other workforce-hating lobbying group do you? Or perhaps you file copy for the Daily Male.
Like Blu, I'd find it a worry if a new employee presented pregnant but I would assume the best about her, and make the best of it.
Harrogatemum, what she has possibly done is told you before she has told her GP, her parents, possibly even her partner. She has broken the code of silence that says you try to keep schtumm until 12 weeks and you are past the highest risk period of miscarriage. I think like the other women and mothers have said, this suggests an honest sort of person who really wants to work for you.

FioFio · 19/07/2006 20:13

This reply has been deleted

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FioFio · 19/07/2006 20:14

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