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Original poster

Quit my job then found out I was pregnant

21 replies

LJDD92 · 08/09/2019 08:26

Hi,

I could really do with some advice. I resigned from my job because I really disliked it. I fell into this career 5 years ago and have been trying to make it work ever since. But, I finally decided to resign (with no job to go to) so I could concentrate on finding out what career would make me happy.

I have 1 week left of my notice period and I have just found out I'm pregnant! It is great news and we're thrilled! But we didn't expect it to happen so quickly!

I'm now wondering if I should retract my resignation (which will be so awkward!) :( and work there until I can go on maternity leave so we are more financially secure. Or, carry on trying to figure out what I want out of a career and accept that money will be tight?!

To make things even more confusing, I might be entitled to enhanced maternity pay but I might not! Because our company merged - the one I have my contract with has enhanced maternity pay, but the new company only have SMP. Help please!

Thanks!

OP posts:
Didiusfalco · 08/09/2019 08:30

Would they even accept you retracting your resignation?

mrssillysausage · 08/09/2019 08:32

Hi, I'm an employment lawyer. Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but they are under no obligation to accept you retracting your notice. Good luck x

Original poster
ljdd92 · 08/09/2019 08:35

Thanks. Yes, I know that they might not accept retracting my resignation. But I'm wondering if it's worth asking? Or if I should just carry as originally planned (and avoid the embarrassment at work!)

OP posts:
ShippingNews · 08/09/2019 08:38

This is a good example of why you shouldn't resign from one job until you have another one to go to. You've had 5 years to work out that you don't like this job, and that you need to find something you like . Oh well, good luck with trying to retract your resignation .

PurpleDaisies · 08/09/2019 08:38

Why in earth would they? You’ve shown you’re no longer committed to working there and you will be going off on maternity leave. You can try, but I don’t see that working out.

AlexaShutUp · 08/09/2019 08:39

You can ask, but as others have said, they are under no obligation to accept.

OneToughMudderFudder · 08/09/2019 08:41

I would absolutely try to get it retracted in your position. I was in the exact same position after trying to conceive for 2 years. I've almost given up on it happening. Job had very generous maternity benefits as well.

I tried to retract it in the last week but they refused. Absolutely gutting as I spent most of the pregnancy temping as I couldn't find another full time position.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 08/09/2019 08:41

Have they started rehiring? You have nothing to lose by asking but equally they may ask you why and then later down the line when you state you are pregnant that will be awkward to say the least

flowery · 08/09/2019 10:36

You could ask but there’s no reason for them to say no, then once you announce you’re pregnant they’ll know why you did it and relationships will be very damaged as a result.

Presumably you are reasonably financially secure anyway, if you resigned without a job to go to? Just carry on with your plans, presumably there is a lot of your pregnancy left so every chance you might find a job before you start maternity leave.

swingofthings · 08/09/2019 13:47

You need to consider what it would be like to work there if indeed they were to agree, which would understandably be because they believed you realised they were a decent company to work with for them to then realised you only did so because of you wanting maternity pay. That is of course if the don't guess the reason for your retracting your notice.

If they are not good to work for now you can guess the hell it would be when they find out they were just used for maternitybpay.

Chancer2 · 11/09/2019 06:12

That's shameful OP. Yes you can say you are looking after yourself, it's your right blah blah blah but things like this are what pisses people and companies off about maternity leave

I really hope your company doesn't let you retract it.

And if they do allow you to retract your resignation, good luck when not if the company twigs why you've done it! And I bet you'll be back spinning a story about how mean they've been to you.

Chancer2 · 11/09/2019 06:20

work there until I can go on maternity leave so we are more financially secure
Of course you have no intention of coming back. You are a CF. I wouldn't be surprised if your company makes you redundant before your leave anyhow and they won't play nice. You will ruin your reputation in the company and if you ever happen to come across one of these people in whichever new industry you go to in the future, you can be sure they won't have forgotten.

RangerLady · 11/09/2019 06:21

You have been working so will will qualify for maternity Allowance so you won't have nothing. There's no way I would have the brass neck to ask to retract my resignation knowing it would be very quickly apparent I'd only done it to get mat pay!
You'll survive, I was in a temp contract when I had dd2 and it was a bit frustrating I was unemployable when I needed a new job but that's the job I had chosen so I just had to deal with it!

Ginmel · 11/09/2019 06:31

Rather than asking to retract your resignation op which is terrible especially because you don't know what you want to do, use this time to pick up temporary roles in industries you think are better for you. Even if its not the ideal job it'll be like a paid work experience

AJPTaylor · 11/09/2019 06:49

Give it a go.

Therealjudgejudy · 11/09/2019 09:20

If you have no shame and a total brass neck, sure ask to retract. If they do take you back however once you announce your pregnacy, be ready to be called out for being a CF..

NorthEndGal · 11/09/2019 11:34

I'd just walk away and focus on what you do want to be doing. Tighten your belt, start deciding what you want to do, and go from there

Abracad · 11/09/2019 11:37

I really think this would be outrageous. We’re fighting so hard for maternity rights. Don’t undermine it at your company for all the other women who work there by being so spectacularly calculating and selfish.

AlexaAmbidextra · 14/09/2019 21:49

Honestly. You think you’ve heard it all and then ............... Hmm

WellButterMyArse · 15/09/2019 09:14

If you'd potentially only get SMP from them anyway you might not be much worse off. Based on what you've said, you should probably qualify for Maternity Allowance, so the only difference is the 6 weeks at 90%.

Rose1992 · 18/09/2019 11:20

Wow, what a horrid bunch of women this lot are sounding like!

I'm in the exact same boat, I just left a good salaries secure job, to go self employed looking after horses and dogs and guess what? I'm not pregnant (an accident!) and now have to quit my self employed jobs as I can no longer ride! I'm looking for other jobs to make up for it but it's bloody hard! I know how you're feeling! We've had maternity rights for years, let's not make out we're at risk of losing it! There's nothing wrong with the OP wanting to be financially secure for her baby. She's a damn site better than 'full time mummy's on benefits!' - ask to retract it and take your maternity, you've put 5 years into a horrid business you hate so the least you deserve is something good out of it!

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