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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:
Marina · 19/07/2006 20:14

But fio, it makes us lying liberty-takers.

FioFio · 19/07/2006 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Marina · 19/07/2006 20:18

Oh yeah, we do so well out of maternity leave on all fronts. Real meal-ticket, that is

MrsJohnCusack · 19/07/2006 20:18

Marina put it beautifully as ever

Maybe she really wanted the job but didn't feel confident that she could get it, and so didn't want to say anything too early
the fact she's said to you that she's pregnant - which I don't think she's obliged to do - suggests real integrity and also real commitment to the job

Obviously it's not ideal for you, but it generally makes better business sense and saves money in the long run if you employ the best person for the job irregardless of whether they might get pregnant.

If only more companies realised this - that if you hire the best people and treat them well, they'll probably be loyal & stay for a good long while and save you having to train up new people all the time as you have to get rid of the rubbish people and people you don't treat well bugger off. Not getting at you here harrogatemum, just a general rant!

PanicPants · 19/07/2006 20:21

Ok blatent hijack here - talking of employers and mothers etc.

My colleague has just recieved her performance management and in it, it comments on her performance relating to her single mother status.

Can employers do this?

BTW think it was good of her to mention the pregnancy before accepting the position.

nooka · 19/07/2006 21:09

I have done this, although to be honest I was sure (it was 3 mths). I found out afterwards that they weren't that happy about it, but there we go. I was only away for four months, so not that big a deal really. And they didn't tell me plenty of things about their organisation either (like the fact it was just about to merge!) The only thing that I would say is a bit odd is the telling you if she's not sure, but it is much easier to say these things at the negotiation stage than once you have started. I've always felt that in between the offer and the contract is signed the person coming has the upper hand, as recruitment is such a pain, and you don't want to lose someone good.

eenywifemum · 19/07/2006 21:14

the company I work for has lost me - like I said before I got pregnant my first week there and they have been horrible about it. When I told my boss at 7 weeks because I had to take time off sick she said 'Oh well its early yet you might lose it'

I am about to start mat leave - I have been on sick leave - and I will NOT be going back. They have shown their true colours. I would have bent over backwards for them if they had been decent to me.

Toothache · 19/07/2006 21:19

Hmmmmm... rather touchy thing to post on a parenting website dontcha think??????

Besides, if she's Agency surely when she goes on Mat Leave in 7 months time.... you can hire someone else! Most agency staff don't hang around that long anyway, pregnant or not.

At least you know she'll be dedicated coz she must need the cash! I know from experience as I found out I was pg 3 weeks after starting an Agency job.

harpsichordcarrier · 19/07/2006 21:22

I just wanted to add that chai's advice is appalling from a legal point of view. Very very bad advice.
really bad.
don't do it.
am I making myself clear enough, do you think?
eenywifemum your employers sound like shits, they don't deserve you

Caligula · 19/07/2006 21:30

D'you think Chai is married to Judge Flounce?

There isn't an issue here. You've offered her teh position so unless you want to pay her compensation, you've got a pregant employee.

harpsichordcarrier · 19/07/2006 21:31

possibly Caligula, is that the kind of cracking advice Judge Flounce gave?
sort of equivalant to taking a whole load of ten pound notes and flushing them down the loo

Caligula · 19/07/2006 21:40

Yes but he generally quoted section III subsection 8 of the twelfty hundredth something or other act while sipping a relaxing whisky...

I miss him sometimes. But not often.

eenywifemum · 19/07/2006 21:43

harpsichordcarrier, thanks. I have always taken a lot of pride in doing a good job and I worked myself nearly to death there trying to 'make up' somehow for getting pregnant right away.

SLIGHT hijack here but they wouldnt let me eat at my desk, take several short breaks instead of one hour one, NOTHING. I have severe hyperemesis which I was hospitalised for and I havent gone back since. They would have had a very grateful woman working for them if they had been at all kind. As it is I will be going from sick leave to mat leave to quitting - NOT because I am lazy or taking advantage but because I could never be happy in that environment again.

shoppingsecret · 19/07/2006 22:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blueshoes · 19/07/2006 22:16

She probably really wants the job and wants to start on the right foot, in case she is pregnant. If she is leaving a previous job where she was employed for more than a year,she would lose her additional maternity benefits in that job. So she is actually giving up a lot to take up this position and not stay at her old job.

UCM · 19/07/2006 23:35

Errrrm, I was recently faced with looking for a new job whilst pregnant and would have terminated my child if I had lost existing job. Precisely because I didn't think I would get any jobs whilst admitting being pregnant.

What I would see, especially if I were a small employer and I am sure that other MNetters will correct me if I am wrong.

If, as I have had to, this woman takes, in my case so far 7 weeks off of work, would you have to pay her. I have been off work for 7 weeks with nausea and if this heatwave continues I will be off for however long it takes, but I am still paid. I have given 10 years of my life to this co. and expect to be paid. It's the law in my case because of the contract I have. But I am not sure if it's the law in this case.

This could absolutely kill off a small employer and I think by withdrawing the offer, you could be sued. However, if you are a small company, there must be something that you can write in the contract ie: you will only pay SSP whilst sick for the next .......

I am not being horrible, but I would be worried if I was the OP, if the OP has a small business. Please correct me if I am wrong.

acnebride · 19/07/2006 23:43

I work for a very small company. They have maternity leave insurance.

Humans have children. End of.

motherinferior · 20/07/2006 10:48

I applied for a job in the early stages of pregnancy once. If I'd been offered it, of course I'd have told them - what was my alternative? Sit there swelling out and then finally explain that yes I'd been up the duff when I'd applied?

Incidentally, I kind of assume all companies of whatever size make provision for pregnant employees and factor that into their budgets. So although clearly only having eight or so months of this new employee in situ may be potentially disruptive I can't see how it would actually endanger the company.

Original poster
harrogatemum · 20/07/2006 20:17

Woooh, I just wanted to know what people thought! I infact said that I would not want to discrimiate against her, just that I thought it was strange to say that she "might" be pregnant but was not sure.

I have confirmed the offer with the agency and they have advised that she is still unsure of her status re pregnancy but has accepted the offer. I am 5 months pregnant myself so am well aware of what maternity rights my company gives (the bare minimum and of course she will not be entitled to extended as she would if she stayed in her current position).

From a professional point of view, of course people get pregnant and have time off, in my team alone infact we have myself and the Manager beneath me both due at the same time, hence the need to employ more staff. I am sure anyone who has struggled to find good staff will appreciate that it just means that things will be difficult, bearing in mind that either myself or the Manager beneath me do the hiring for our Department and when she goes on maternity leave (if she is pregnant), we will both be off!

Anyway, I hope I have got my point across. I am happy to employ this lady and have done so. She is only young (24) and I am sure she will be a credit to teh organisatioh I work for.

OP posts:
hulababy · 20/07/2006 20:22

It's a pain for employers but just one of those things if you employ women of a certain age range. She didn't have to say anything at this stage, especially as she doesn't even know herself. In her position I wouldn't have said anything at all until I was 100% sure, and then maybe not immediately anyway.

I did change jobs whilst TTC. I had been TTC for a long time. I got the job at Easter time to start in Septewmber (I eas a teacher). I found out I was pregnant at the start of the Summer holidays. I told my new head teacher during the first couple of weeks of starting my new school.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/07/2006 20:25

To be honest, i dont understand why employers think its such a hardship to take on pregnant women - they get most of the mat pay back that they pay out, dont they?

They pay someone else to cover in the meantime - surely no person is that "indespensible" that if they went on maternity leave the company would collapse? If that is the case then more fool the company for allowing someone to build their own "job empire".

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/07/2006 20:26

Or take on women who get pregnant.

(And just to clarify - not having a go at harrogate mum AT ALL)

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/07/2006 20:27

Bit stressed actually. Got my employment tribunal in 11 days.

For sex discrimination and constructive dismissal

hulababy · 20/07/2006 20:27

If it is is so soon in her new job I don't think you will have to pay the mat pay out anyway. I didn't get SMP through my work as I wasn't entitled to it. I had to claim Maternity Allowance direct myself. So, it is only the cost of the cover you'll have to pay out.

1973magpie · 20/07/2006 21:07

I think that you can get more back than you pay out in Maternity pay if you are a small business (104% or something like that?), but you would have to check that with the Inland Revenue site.

I am glad to hear the sensible advice others have given you (except Chai's - which seemed to be encouraging you to get taken to a tribunal one way or the other!), it all seems very good advice, many employers don't seem to realise that the law changed regarding the treatment of pregnant employees quite some tine ago!!

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