Interview for internal job - 7 weeks pregnant

[bez91]

Hi all, after some advice.

An internal vacancy has come up at work. I have been with the company for 18 months. Same salary as I am on currently so just a sideward step into another department but a role which is much more interesting and suited to my experience.

My old manager moved into this said department a couple of months ago and encouraged me to apply, I told her I would apply knowing myself I could be pregnant as we've been trying a few months.

Put my application in and I've got an interview in a couple of weeks. I'm 7+3 weeks pregnant. The company have been good to me, in contrast to a previous employer who made me redundant during my last mat leave.

I want to be honest with them, but I didn't want to tell anyone before 12 weeks. if I got the job by the time I'd worked my notice period I'd only be in the role for 5/6 months before going on mat leave, the person who would cover the mat leave would end up being more experienced.

I'm toying between discreetly asking my old manager for advise before the interview to see what she thinks, disclosing it in the interview or seeing if I get a job offer then disclosing it then. I know I can't be discriminated against blah blah, I went through it all last time with ACAS but I don't want to be a tw*t either to be honest.

Any advice?

[anguauberwaldironfoundersson]

Oh I'm sorry to hear about your loss but I'd also like to say congratulations on the new job.

[bez91]

Thanks ladies for all your advice and help.

A little update, a week before the interview I was going to drop out based on the fact I was pregnant but had an early scan and the sonographer found abnormalities in the growth so we had to wait for a rescan to see if just further behind than expected or a missed miscarriage. I knew straight away it was a missed miscarriage so I powered though the interview and got the job 😊 just waiting for surgical management for the removal of the pregnancy but glad I wasn't too hasty and pulled out of the interview. Thanks ladies

[peachypetite]

@bez91 your latest update doesn't seem like it's the right time for you to go for that job then, if you can't do it, you're not going to learn any new skills or develop?

[anguauberwaldironfoundersson]

I'm not an expert but surely if you tell them and they then discount your application because you're pregnant and they have a blanket ban on pregnant women doing the role it's discrimination? I'm happy to be told I'm wrong but surely their having a blanket ban doesn't negate your ability to do the actual role, pregnant or not?

[bez91]

Thanks everyone, I am still undecided to be honest. One of the reasons being the job involves 95% being out and about visiting people's homes, care homes and hostels and the blanket rule for pregnant employees is to work from home due to covid and visits not permitted in the expectant mother risk assessments so I wouldn't really be able to undertake the role as it is intended- grrrr more thinking to do!

[FTMF30]

If it's an internal role, I especially don't see the need to tell them anytime soon. They will need to find a mat cover for you in any case, whether it be the new role or the one you already have.

[whatever1980]

Keep quiet. No need for them to know.


If you're a woman of child bearing age then it's not unlikely you'll have a child and they'll know that.

[JemimaTiggywinkle]

I don’t think you should say anything. If you’re the right candidate you’ll be excellent at the job before you go on mat leave, and after you return.

You have nothing to gain from telling them - it just makes it more likely that they could unconsciously (or consciously) disregard you for the job.

It does not give them any useful information about your ability to do the job.

If you tell them and you don’t get it, you’ll always wonder if that’s the reason why.

[Sunflowerr2]

I agree with @anguauberwaldironfoundersson and the others.

A company with hire another you tomorrow if needed. Think of yourself OP

[Roselilly36]

I agree with previous posters, keep it quiet for now.

[LemonBreeland]

Don't say anything. I know you want to be honest with them, but this will not work out well for you.

[peachypetite]

Nope don’t say a word.

[anguauberwaldironfoundersson]

At 7 weeks you're unlikely to necessarily know yourself if you get what I mean. So if you get the role you have plausible deniability that it was so early you didn't know yourself.

I'd keep quiet personally. Whilst they can't discriminate because you're pregnant, it doesn't mean they won't. There was a long thread on here where a lady won a case because a job offer had been withdrawn when she told them she was pregnant.