17 weeks pregnant and 12 week probation...

[Snm86]

Hi there,

I’m currently 17 weeks pregnant today, and have today received a new job offer to start next week... I was made redundant last September due to Covid and it’s been really difficult to find work, so today is a good day.

Anyway, as I go this new job through the agency, I’m automatically on a 12 week probation and I’m really worried about how/when I tell them about me being pregnant... thankfully I’m not really showing and I’ll be working in a male based environment, and mainly on my own...

Can they get rid of me for being pregnant during my probation period? I’m aware I have to tell them at 25 weeks which will still be in my probation period...

Any help or advice?

A probationary period has no meaning in law. It is a contractual term that typically allows both employer and employee to terminate the contract on a shorter notice period than normal and outside the probationary period.

Dismissing you for being pregnant would be discrimination, so no they cannot do that whether you are on probation or not (because as mentioned probation means nothing in law).

Many thanks for your message, very reassuring to know 👍🏼

They can’t dismiss you because of pregnancy, but they can dismiss you for any non-discriminatory reason during a probation period. Meaning if they want to get rid of you because you’re pregnant it will be really easy for them to do just by giving a different reason. I’d be very careful how/when you tell them. Are they a family friendly company?