Applying for jobs when pregnant

[OTheHugeManatee]

I've been working on a contract for the last year, and found out I was pg just as the contract ended. The thing I was planning to move to has fallen through so I'm now looking for other employment. I'm 10wks pg.

Most of the opportunities out there are permanent FT jobs, which is fine, but I feel a bit deceptive applying for work when I already know I'm pregnant and will need to go off on ML in September.

Does anyone know what my rights/obligations are? Do I need to disclose that I'm pg at interview? Can they fire me if they find out I'm pg during my probation? I can't afford not to work for the next few months until I give birth, but I don't really want to shaft a new employer either

You don't need to disclose it. They can't legally withdraw a job offer or boot you when they find out, but you'd be terminally naive to think this never happens. There are also a number of people who think it's unethical to take a job and not disclose pregnancy funnily enough they're not usually queuing up to provide alternative financial support to keep women in your shoes out of the workplace so expect a certain amount of shadiness. I'm not saying that's legitimate, just that it happens.

You won't be entitled to maternity pay from them, but if you've worked for most of the 15 months before due date you'll probably qualify for Maternity Allowance which is about £140 a week for 39 weeks. They still have to give you paid time off for antenatal appointments, and you're still entitled to the usual maternity leave plus paid accrued annual leave and protections. Just not maternity pay.

Thanks - that about reflects what I suspected.

I'm chuffed to bits about the baby but the timing is a bastard

Well, it is, but these things happen. You never know what might have happened if you'd left it longer, either. I was in a similar position, I interviewed for a job before getting pregnant, then found out to my surprise that I was up the duff the same week I started. They were ostensibly fine but there was always an undercurrent, so I dealt with it by finding another job on ML. We were all on redundancy notice by then anyway. Probably easy done if there are lots of fixed term contracts in your industry. Congratulations btw.

Oh, another thing, if at all possible you might want to refrain from telling them until you know you've already done enough weeks to qualify for maternity allowance. If you've been working solidly for most of the past year, it's possible you're there already.

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility