New job falling pregnant

[dorris88]

So I was made redundant at the end of 2020 from a big company I was at for years. Got a job to tide me over at a small company which is just a big sexist shi**er.

I have been trying for a baby for the past 4 months and I'm not convinced I'll fall as quickly this time around due to some ovary problems I've had.

Anyway, I've applied for a dream job back in a global company but my DH is concerned cos if I fall pregnant, they'll sack me.

I have done my research and I'm pretty sure they can't sack me if I did fall pregnant after starting there. Also; I would be entitled to some SMP I believe.

Basically I'm just putting this on here incase I've got that totally wrong, or if you think im making a bad move.

They can't sack you for a pregnancy related reason. If you have started work before getting pregnant then you'd likely qualify for SMP (you have to have been employed for at least 26 weeks by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant to qualify)

Of course they absolutely cannot sack you, and if they did you'd have a lawsuit for discrimination. I had to find a job when I was pregnant this year due to redundancy, there is a lot of it happening at the moment. Applying to a male dominated industry I didn't think I stood a chance, and although I didn't have to legally, I did explain in my interview that I was 4 months pregnant so would only for them for 4 months. They did react in a slightly caught off guard way, but I guess they hadn't had someone say that in an interview before and weren't expecting it. I got the job, they said I was the best for it and that people come and go all the time, it doesn't make a difference that I'll have a year off now.

In that four months I got so much done and made a real name for myself already. It's amazing what you can achieve in a short amount of time. By the time it came to leave I didn't feel the slightest bit guilty about having to go.

So my advice is not to put your career on hold for pregnancy, especially for a dream job. It will make it so much more appealing to go back to work after if it's somewhere you actually want to work.

@FartleBarfle thank you for that.

Your right - I have to consider the job il be coming back to and I wouldn't want to come back to the one I'm at now!

I also think my boss is so unprofessional he will just contact me through my MAT leave like he tried to contact my colleague who left the business ALL THE TIME to ask her questions.

Under 2 years of employment you San be dismissed for any reason. Proving it's due to pregnancy is very difficult and often extremely expensive. I'd advise checking out Pregnant and Screwed website for advice/guidance/anecdotal experiences.

Fwiw, I took a job in February this year, underwent IVF treatment (on my own via a sperm donor) and was successful. I didn't tell work until I was over 20 weeks pregnant as I was still in my probation period and didn't want anything to jeopardise it. I was fortunate as working from home I'd been able to hide it.

The reaction from work has been positive, at least on the front of things, but tbh I'm 39 and at this point I really couldn't care what the work thinks...as long as I qualified for the SMP that's all I cared about.

As per @dementedpixie
"If you have started work before getting pregnant then you'd likely qualify for SMP (you have to have been employed for at least 26 weeks by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant to qualify)" this is correct.

I 36yrs old, been with one company for 12yrs and got made redundant June 2020. Took a job to pay the bills and hate it. Currently 34weeks pregnant and off on sick leave. I'd do what makes you happy now. Don't wait on what ifs. If the global job will make you happier then go for it, if you only get SMP can you save a little extra in the 7-8month run up to mat leave?