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Original poster

Would you do this?

53 replies

AyeAyeFishyPie · 17/01/2018 20:25

I am a teacher. I am expecting our first child at the start of September.

I haven’t been happy in my role for a while but we wanted to TTC so I thought I would look for a job and TTC at the same time and see which came first. We conceived straight away.

BUT - I have seen a job come up that I am really interested in. If I got it I understand I wouldn’t get any mat pay but the pay rise would be substantial enough for it not to matter.

But it’s a dick move isn’t it? My current school don’t know I’m pregnant yet. I’m not showing, I could do the interview withiut telling them.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Piffpaffpoff · 17/01/2018 20:29

I worked with someone who did this. She got the job, told them, came in for a couple of months then went on mat leave for a year. It’s her right to do so but everyone was v pissed off at her. If you can cope with that then do it. But if you tell them, it will form part of their decision making process, intentionally or not.

gobbin · 17/01/2018 23:18

Colleague did this and got pregnant again very quickly. Is a committed member of staff (with two kids) who’s been here years.

Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 18/01/2018 16:43

gobbin has anyone commented negatively on it?

I wouldn’t even start you see. Hm.

OP posts:
Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 18/01/2018 16:47

gobbin has anyone commented negatively on it?

I wouldn’t even start you see. Hm.

OP posts:
Lifeofpies · 18/01/2018 20:00

I’m job hunting now, at 13w pregnant and have decided not to tell anyone until I accept an offer. Not a teacher but my work is sensitive to EU exit, so not great timing for a new employer.
My approach is that they will get years of excellent work from me once I return from mat leave, which is a drop in the ocean in your working life. My potential employers are also large organisations that can absorb mat leave to an extent. I guess schools are pretty used to having to cover maternity?

Uou would still be eligible for maternity allowance, by the way, assuming you’d paid enough tax this year.

grumpy4squash · 18/01/2018 21:14

So really you would be asking them to hire you and wait at least a year before you would start.
From a business POV, surely this is unlikely to be acceptable for them (especially as there is no obligation to return after mat leave and they are also not allowed to ask you).
The timing sucks, but I honestly think you would have to pass on this one.

Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 18/01/2018 22:01

lifeofpies so do you think I should theow my hat in?

OP posts:
MessySurfaces · 18/01/2018 22:12

If you are thinking of not even applying at all you might as well go for it and tell them if you get an interview! It might be totally fine. You might be head and shoulders above the rest of the candidates, so giving you the job, and the next best person the cover job, could work really well for both sides. Or not- but if you don't apply you can be certain you won't get it!

flowery · 18/01/2018 23:21

This is a job not starting until September?

Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 19/01/2018 21:27

flowery yes that's right

OP posts:
Ylvamoon · 19/01/2018 21:38

Although you are fully within your right doing this, I think you should at least spend 5 minutes thinking about the impact this will have on the people around you. (Pupils, other staff and the schools budget.)

seven201 · 19/01/2018 21:42

I'm a teacher and wouldn't do that. I'm not saying you shouldn't though, just that I haven't got the balls to!

Also, what's the promotion? You may find after you've had dc that you don't want any extra responsibilities.

Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 19/01/2018 22:04

viyamoon did you mean to be so rude? If I wasnt fully considering everything I wouldn't have posted.

OP posts:
Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 19/01/2018 22:07

seven I'm currently middle management, this is senior. You are absolutely right that I don't know I will find it.

OP posts:
McTufty · 19/01/2018 22:11

Go for it. If you were a man who was due to become a father, he wouldn’t have to pass on this job. I understand it is inconvenient to the school, but it’s stuff like this which contributes to holding women back in the workforce.

I can see I’m a lone voice but that’s my opinion!

Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 19/01/2018 22:17

Thanks mctufty - actually two of you have said that! I am tempted. In terms of inconveniencing everyone, in terms of pupils it would be less inconvenient than me going and coming back. It's also senior management so far fewer classes. Jobs don't come up all the time so I don't want to ignore it just out of hand

OP posts:
Lillylollylandy · 19/01/2018 22:22

I didn’t think Ylvamoon was being rude, FWIW.

I don’t quite understand how this would work. So you’d apply, accept the job and then immediately go on maternity leave? I can’t see how that would happen? It’s January right now. How long is your notice period?

Hellywelly10 · 19/01/2018 22:28

No I wouldn't do that. But I'm not overly ambitious

KungFuEric · 19/01/2018 22:29

Obviously they can't legally discriminate based on your pregnancy, but I'm also struggling to understand the timings. When do you think the interview would be? I don't know the nature of teaching job interviews, but if they offered you the job in April say, when would you need to inform them that you wouldn't be starting?

Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 19/01/2018 22:35

lillylollylandy
You have to give notice by May if you plan on starting a new job in September. Most teachers look jan/Feb so that's when lots get new jobs and hand in their resignation. I wouldn't immediately go on mat leave, I would finish the year at my current school, have summer off as usual and then start mat leave

OP posts:
Original poster
AyeAyeFishyPie · 19/01/2018 22:36

kungfueric the interview would be in the next couple of weeks.

OP posts:
Theresnonamesleft · 19/01/2018 22:37

Which makes finding maternity cover for a year harder for the school.

KungFuEric · 19/01/2018 22:42

So if you went for the job and were successful, you would give your current employer notice by may to finish just prior to September new term. When would you notify new employer you wouldn't begin until September 2019?

McTufty · 19/01/2018 23:03

I think notification has to be at least 15 weeks before due date so you would need to tell new employer mid May at the latest?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/01/2018 23:07

viyamoon did you mean to be so rude

They weren't rude in the slightest.

Personally no I wouldn't do it. I did work in a school however where someone did. It didn't go down well in the slightest.

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