Got a job without telling employer I'm pregnant

[Emma70459]

Hi ladies,
I need desperate advice.
So I applied for a zero hour admin role back in march. I recently got the interview and I got the job. (I didnt expect to).
They sent me a health questionnaire which I declared I was pregnant and I stated my due date. When the interviewer asked me whether I am able to work full time, I said I am able to "for now" because I was able to a couple of weeks ago.
Now I cant because my SMP starts next week and my new boss is asking me to start next week.
How do I break the news that as much as I would love to work for her- I cant because I will lose my SMP?

Have you had an offer letter/contract?

Yes. But my references and DBS still needs to be checked before I can officially start

Presumably you can’t start immediately / before your mat leave without loosing your SMP from your previous employer? So what start date can you give them now?

September 2021

Isn't this a bank job as opposed to zero hour contract?

You can't really do this. It's wrong to take a job when you can't start for almost an entire year. Either take the job and give up maternity leave or turn down the job.

You’ve had 6 pages of advice here this evening -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4089873-Got-the-job-without-telling-employer-I-am-pregnant

You know what you’ve done is underhand. You know you need to phone the boss / HR dept first thing tomorrow.

But surely you can't accept the job because you won't work?

They said it is a bank job which has a zero hours contract

I know I need to call her on friday and explain.

Why Friday? Phone her first thing tomorrow. Have some respect, this is so unprofessional of you

@Emma70459

They said it is a bank job which has a zero hours contract

Is it zero hours or is it full time?

They can’t withdraw a job offer because you’re taking maternity leave, or delay a start date. But they are going to be pretty pissed off if you’ve led them to believe you’re available now

Have you actually accepted the job? If not then there is no contract between you and they can withdraw it I believe.

Zero hours and I havent signed anything yet which confirms the job offer

How is it unprofessional?! You do realise that you dont have to disclose a pregnancy during an interview right? And they gave me a work questionnaire where I did disclose my pregnany and my baby's due date

6 pages of ranting rather than advice lol

No. There's been plenty of advice op.

Why 2 threads?

Someone suggested I do this to get more relevant advice

@Emma70459

How is it unprofessional?! You do realise that you dont have to disclose a pregnancy during an interview right? And they gave me a work questionnaire where I did disclose my pregnany and my baby's due date

You don’t have to disclose a pregnancy but it’s a piss take to accept a new job at 37 weeks pregnant without telling them, and you must know that.

Op. There is only one thing you can do, and that's inform the company, in writing, much as you have already been advised. Not sure what other advice you think is out there? You have to tell them. They can't discriminate.

But the Op is choosing not to work so she doesn't lose SMP, totally unprofessional!

@Emma70459

Zero hours and I havent signed anything yet which confirms the job offer

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve signed anything. Although if you want the job, I would do so now.

Accept the job, and say you’re starting maternity leave so are unable to start work yet, but look forward to joining them once your leave is over.

You say the interviewer asked if you could work full time, but then when the offer arrived, it was zero hours. I think that needs ironing out. Zero hours means literally they are unable to guarantee any hours week to week. “Can you work full time” is a completely different thing.

@HollyBollyBooBoo

But the Op is choosing not to work so she doesn't lose SMP, totally unprofessional!

Of course she doesn't want to lose SMP, she's about to have a baby and will still have bills to pay while on maternity leave.

Exactly