Accepted a new job... then BFP

[Flybynight1]

Hi All,

I honestly never thought I’d find myself in this situation but here I am. Been ‘not trying not protecting’ for a few months now while employed with a company I have been at for 6 years (eligible for SMP).

I interviewed at the beginning of the year with a new company who had to pull the recruitment because of everything COVID related. They said they’d get back in touch if things changed but I didn’t expect them to. So hence we thought to get on with baby #3.

Then last month the new company got in touch to say they had an opening and offered me a job. I accepted and we started taking precautions (well in fact haven’t had sex since last period!)

Well looks like the last ‘period’ I had in October (prior to new company getting in touch) may not have been (bleeding for several days at the right time sure made it seem that way!), I’ve missed a period and positive 3weeks+ clear blue result and based on intercourse history/timing I would have EDD in July. I’m starting with new company in January.

What do I do? Third baby was def in our plan but not being eligible for maternity pay was not... I am the breadwinner and although DH can and will plan to take a significant chunk of the SPL, what’s the minimum leave I could reasonably take? As I said this is baby #3 so we aren’t newbies although appreciate every baby is different... I can’t really go back to existing employer and cancel my resignation! Should I tell new employer now or wait...?

Any advice or success stories welcome please (I actually haven’t even told DH yet...)

You would be able to claim Maternity Allowance. It is the same monthly amount as SMP but you just don't get the 6 weeks at 90%.

You need to tell your new employer by about week 25 of pregnancy. I'm not sure I'd say anything just yet

Yikes!! But congratulations on your pregnancy!!

So you will get Maternity Allowance which is £151 per week.

The minimum amount of time off is 2 weeks after the baby is born. I think realistically, you probably want three months. If your husband can share the maternity leave, this is great!

You will have paid full tax on the first 3 to 4 months of earnings in the tax year and this will be adjusted monthly while you are receiving maternity allowance.

You could negotiate a phased return to work on reduced hours or reduced number of days but this might not be financially viable.

@ChateauMargaux thank you for this info! Yes 2 weeks is very short but 3 months also feels very long given I will have been with them potentially for only 5 months by the EDD... I was thinking something like 6 weeks with a large wfh component (as is the case for the time being), I’ve gone back to work full time after 6 months previously with husband taking the reigns for 6/7 months each child but looking back at photos a 6 week old baby is very small!!

I appreciate there’s no legal discrimination against pregnancy and maternity leave but the judgement and opinions of individuals and even companies is something else... the new company do sell themselves as anti discriminatory but I wonder if this will be one push too far!

You can also work 10 KIT days without bringing your maternity leave to an end.. that could be 2 days per week for 5 weeks..

Also, this is a strange year, they wanted you a year ago, have managed through 2 lockdowns without you and now probably want to hit the ground running but will need to work through all the hiccups that this year has left in its wake. I imagine most organisations have learned to be flexible and to adapt to people working from home etc etc,

Think about what support would look like at home.. post partum doula / housekeeper / pa / mortgage holiday.