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Original poster

25 weeks pregnant job starting in a week

112 replies

Question2022 · 04/02/2022 22:25

Hi,

I will be starting a job soon with the NHS as a medical secretary and am going to be about 27 weeks when I start.

I heard that by 28 weeks pregnant they can medically suspend you. Please can anyone shed some light on this as I am slightly confused

So I have not told work that am pregnant until my start date. I am really worried to start a job at this late stage. Anyone who knows about NHS can pregnant employees work till the later weeks of their pregnancy what about covid 19? Can they accommodate working from home of the job can be easily carried out at home.

Thanks

OP posts:
couldhavenotcouldof22 · 05/02/2022 11:31

Sorry, I don't understand. Do they know you're pregnant?

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 05/02/2022 11:33

So you have been deceitful and not informed them that you are pregnant?

LIZS · 05/02/2022 11:36

Do you not need to submit your matb1 to qualify for ml? They will need to do a risk assessment for your role but may depend on role and level of patient contact.

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/02/2022 11:40

They won’t medically suspend medical secretaries at 28 weeks - they did 2 years ago due to Covid risks but even frontline staff get moved into non-frontline roles and work though now.

If you haven’t applied for mat leave with them yet you’d better do it now.

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/02/2022 11:41

I’m a NHS HR Director.

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/02/2022 11:42

What did you say in your Occ Health form when it asked if you might need adjustments?

Really silly not to tell them until you turn up. What a ridiculous thing to do.

Honeyleather · 05/02/2022 12:25

To answer your question - Currently my trust is only putting clinical staff on leave, re deploying to a non patient facing role or working at home at 28 weeks. Admin roles are continuing as normal unless they are patient facing on wards etc.

This really is something you should have discussed prior to starting (after the job offer) so risk assessments could be done and things could have been put in place to accommodate you. It won't look good to just walk in with a 3rd trimester pregnancy. They can't legally discriminate against you because of your pregnancy, but the NHS is not free from controversy so expect it not to go down well. While they can't ask questions about pregnancy during your interview, it's always best to be honest, after they offered you the job formally.
Don't expect them to put special measures into working from home for a new employee who will need training.
Are you aware you potentially won't be eligible for statutory maternity pay and definitely won't for the enhanced NHS maternity pay?

I'd encourage age you to contact ACAS for some advice.

WouldIBeATwat · 05/02/2022 14:48

@Honeyleather

To answer your question - Currently my trust is only putting clinical staff on leave, re deploying to a non patient facing role or working at home at 28 weeks. Admin roles are continuing as normal unless they are patient facing on wards etc.

This really is something you should have discussed prior to starting (after the job offer) so risk assessments could be done and things could have been put in place to accommodate you. It won't look good to just walk in with a 3rd trimester pregnancy. They can't legally discriminate against you because of your pregnancy, but the NHS is not free from controversy so expect it not to go down well. While they can't ask questions about pregnancy during your interview, it's always best to be honest, after they offered you the job formally.
Don't expect them to put special measures into working from home for a new employee who will need training.
Are you aware you potentially won't be eligible for statutory maternity pay and definitely won't for the enhanced NHS maternity pay?

I'd encourage age you to contact ACAS for some advice.

She absolutely won’t get SMP - you can’t if you start a job/change employer when already pregnant.
Viviennemary · 05/02/2022 14:52

How ridiculous and selfish to put an employer who needs to fill a vacancy in this very difficult position.

Original poster
Question2022 · 05/02/2022 15:17

@UnshakenNeedsStirring

So you have been deceitful and not informed them that you are pregnant?
At interview stage I don't see the point in informing them directly I will do when I start.
OP posts:
Original poster
Question2022 · 05/02/2022 15:18

@couldhavenotcouldof22

Sorry, I don't understand. Do they know you're pregnant?
I haven't actually started the role yet
OP posts:
LIZS · 05/02/2022 15:23

But you did not when accepting the role either?

Overthebow · 05/02/2022 15:24

Have you got a job offer? If so you need to be telling them now before you start. You can’t just turn up on day 1 pregnant, they will need to have done risk assessments. I doubt you’ll get medically suspended, you won’t have actually done any work and they need someone to do the job.

bellsbuss · 05/02/2022 15:25

This must be a joke surely

Figgygal · 05/02/2022 15:34

Any job can suspend you on safety grounds whilst pregnant if there is a risk to you Given the type of role you going into I would be very surprised if that was the case here
I think you are in for a very difficult conversation not having informed them of your pregnancy at such an advanced stage I am really not sure what you thinking here and am sorry to say but it does giveA very poor impression

Having said that if you had told them and they had taken any negative action against you it would have been direct discrimination so legally you've done nothing wrong (morally however it is murky.....)

WorriedGiraffe · 05/02/2022 15:41

I’m not surprised you are worried, you’re deliberately starting out on a bad note with them by not telling them until your first day. And then expecting them to let you work from home because of covid may well just come across cheeky.

WorriedGiraffe · 05/02/2022 15:44

Also legally speaking you have to tell your employer atleast 15 weeks before your due date so you absolutely should have told them once you’d accepted the offer at the latest.

Bettybantz · 05/02/2022 15:47

Crikey

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/02/2022 15:50

@Viviennemary

How ridiculous and selfish to put an employer who needs to fill a vacancy in this very difficult position.
Indeed. And given how long checks etc can take they have probably lost any other candidates that could have covered the role when OP is not able to do it imminently.
DicklessWonder · 05/02/2022 15:50

This sort of shitty behaviour towards employers has a habit of sticking. Watch out OP.

TokyoDreaming · 05/02/2022 15:52

You're going to regret not being honest.

Hoppinggreen · 05/02/2022 15:52

OP hasn’t done anything wrong in a legal or HR sense
It’s pretty shitty though

sunsshineshowerss · 05/02/2022 15:54

Wow you are going to be flavour of the month. I couldn't have the brass neck 😂

Pinklittle · 05/02/2022 15:54

From my understanding you do not have to inform an employer of a pregnancy until 15 weeks before the due date, as you will be over this when you start I'm not sure where the book lies tbh OP - good luck with your new role

Crazycatlady83 · 05/02/2022 15:54

But are you not going to take maternity leave? You should have informed your employer by 25 weeks pregnant of your pregnancy if you want to take maternity leave.