Should I fight for more money - or would it be illegal?

[TinTinsSexySister]

I have just been offered a new position at work for a wage that I know is below market rate.

In all honesty, it may well be worth me refusing the position unless the pay is raised, as the role entails considerably more responsibility than my current position.

I have expressed my concerns over the pay to my boss and asked for a further meeting for him to provide me with a full job description from which I can make a decision/negotiate more money.

Under normal circumstances I think I would fight very hard for a significant wage increase before I took the role and I think I can make a decent case for this. However…

…I am pregnant. Just a few weeks. It’s my second DC and I returned to work in a new PT role with this company, and this team, after my first DC two and a bit years ago.

If I just roll over and accept new role with the increased (but to my mind inadequate) pay, am I in breech of any legal or contractual agreement because I am already aware I am upduffed?

If I fight for more pay - and get it - and then have to announce I am upduffed, am I again in breech of anything and/or how badly is this going to reflect on me?

It’s not the most female/family friendly of workplaces, but they have been fair to me in the past and I know I am a valued member of the team.

Help!

It is totally irrelevant that you are pregnant. - well obv not to you, but with regards your job. Don't that fact impact anything you do.

Best thing to do is imagine you are a man and it is your wife who is pregnant, not you. Would a man with a pregnant wife or girl friend have to tell his boss, or be in trouble for not mentioning it? Thought not!

Hope you get more money and congrats on the pregnancy!

I completely agree. If you weren't pregnant, you would insist on the correct pay - why should it be any different because you are? Not to mention they will probably need to pay the market rate to get your maternity cover in post, so how galling would that be?!

In fairness, I would leave it a good few weeks before announcing the pregnancy, so you can at least give the illusion of not having known at the time when you pushed for the pay rise. But that's purely to stave off the 'bloody working mums' critics - hold your head up high and remember: you're worth it!

Push for the pay. Your pregnancy is irrelevant. You are not breaking any laws at all (I'm an employment lawyer)

Thanks everyone!

Better get fighting fit then - deep breath!