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Pregnant while in probation in new job.

8 replies

valentina39 · 05/06/2014 08:16

I'm almost 9 wks. And this is my 7th week in my job.
When would people advise that I tell my employers that in pregnant?? Should I wait until after my probation expires on 14th July.. I'll be -about 15/16 weeks by then..
Also going to have appointments coming up and they won't know why?
Thx

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SqutterNutBaush · 05/06/2014 08:20

Tell them ASAP.

They can't sack you for being pregnant and will probably appreciate your honesty as it allows them more time to organise cover.

I was actually pregnant when I was interviewed for my last job but was unaware and I had to actually tell them on my first day as I was 10 weeks and suffering from bad morning sickness and the on-set of SPD. I went on mat leave at 36 weeks, a month before my probationary period ended :o

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 05/06/2014 08:31

It would depend on the company. It would be illegal to discriminate, but some places would happily not pass your probation. Unless the job has adjustments that would need to be taken for your safety, I'd probably keep it to myself. 15 weeks isn't very far along, so it's not like you're waiting an unreasonable amount of time.

Congratulations!

NewJobNewLife · 05/06/2014 08:48

I would wait until probation ends if that will be by 15 or 16 weeks.

It is illegal to discriminate but why risk it? If you tell them now and then fail probation then you'll never really know whether it was because of your pregnancy or performance. If you keep it to yourself, then you know you have passed or failed on your own merits.

It would also be entirely normal to jeep this news to yourself until then. A lot of people tell no one until after the 12 week scan, and then will want to tell friends and family before work. So it could easily be 15 weeks before you're ready to tell your employer.

With my first pregnancy, I didn't tell work until 16 weeks because of end of year appraisals. I had been working for my very fair employer for 7+ years, but I wanted to be sure my appraisal was fair. There is no possibility that the pregnancy influenced my bosses judgement because he didn't know! He was also not annoyed by the delay, and in fact it was another month before we told my team (which was tricky to hide as I was carrying twins!).

I am now pregnant again (13+ weeks) and won't be telling my boss for a few weeks yet if I can keep my stomach sucked in. We're just setting objectives for the coming year, and I don't want all the good stuff going to someone else because I'll be going on leave. Once its been assigned to me, I can then work up handover plans, but why should I risk getting stuck with the dross because I'm pregnant?!

If you need significant time off due to pregnancy, then I would consider telling them earlier - it'd be crazy to fail probation because of pregnancy related sick absence! But if you only need the odd day/half day for the booking appointment and first scan, then I'd take them as annual leave and bide your time.

good luck with your pregnancy, your new job, and your announcement when you tell them. I hope it all goes well :)

notaflamingclue · 05/06/2014 09:24

TBH I'm not sure that probation makes any difference. You will still be less than 2 years into the job and therefore, provided it's not discriminatory, they can get rid of you if they don't think it's working out.

In your shoes I'd be inclined not to say anything simply because of the usual 'keeping things quiet' in the early stages but, as previously said, if the job would require adjustments to keep you safe / healthy, perhaps I'd consider it sooner. I'd also think about telling them if I was unlucky enough to suffer from morning sickness.

Congratulations Thanks

flowery · 05/06/2014 11:24

Probation is completely irrelevant. It means nothing in law, and no one has any more protection against getting dismissed after passing probation than they did before. Plus anyone dismissed because of pregnancy can claim unfair dismissal from day one anyway.

valentina39 · 05/06/2014 23:11

Thank you all x

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valentina39 · 05/06/2014 23:12

Thank you so much x and good luck to you too.. I'll wait.. My family don't even know yet ??

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valentina39 · 05/06/2014 23:13

Thank you so much x and good luck to you too.. I'll wait.. My family don't even know yet ??

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