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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:
pikapikapukachu · 05/02/2022 17:46

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

Lots of horrible comments on this thread. I started a job at 22 weeks pregnant and obviously it's not ideal. However I needed a job and, as lots of the comments here suggest, there's a high chance of the job offer being withdrawn if pregnant women volunteers the information. I'm sure other women in the same situation would prefer to be honest and not be discriminated against but we're obviously not there yet.
This is why I'd like the OP to clarify if she is planning on just turning up and then telling them. She'll have 10 weeks at the most in post. I'm not sure what the notice period would be for this particular role, but two months is not uncommon, to give them time to try and fill the post. She's going to have a really bad start if they only find out on her first day that they need to look for maternity cover 10 weeks later.
Cheekypeach · 05/02/2022 17:46

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

Lots of horrible comments on this thread. I started a job at 22 weeks pregnant and obviously it's not ideal. However I needed a job and, as lots of the comments here suggest, there's a high chance of the job offer being withdrawn if pregnant women volunteers the information. I'm sure other women in the same situation would prefer to be honest and not be discriminated against but we're obviously not there yet.
Why is it ‘horrible’ to say being dishonest with your employer about being 6 months pregnant is wrong? It is wrong. OP has no benefit from doing this - they can’t withdraw the offer because she’s pregnant, but they could potentially find other reasons to let her go now they know she os deceitful.
DistrictCommissioner · 05/02/2022 17:50

I would imagine notice period is 1 week on either side while she’s on probation.

BonnieConnie · 05/02/2022 17:50

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

Lots of horrible comments on this thread. I started a job at 22 weeks pregnant and obviously it's not ideal. However I needed a job and, as lots of the comments here suggest, there's a high chance of the job offer being withdrawn if pregnant women volunteers the information. I'm sure other women in the same situation would prefer to be honest and not be discriminated against but we're obviously not there yet.
The OP has been dishonest. There was nothing stopping her telling the employer she was pregnant after they had given her a formal job offer. They wouldn't be allowed to discriminate against her then, but they would at least have some warning! In fact she still has 2 weeks to do that. Instead she plans to rock up on the first day, in her third trimester and then expects to work from home!
stuntbubbles · 05/02/2022 17:50

they can’t withdraw the offer because she’s pregnant
Legally they can’t but plenty of employers find another reason to get rid, to circumvent the law. Oh, it’s not because she’s pregnant, it’s because she misspelled something on her CV, goes against protocol. Oh, she can keep the role, it’s just the duties and hours have changed to these shit ones. Etc

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/02/2022 17:56

@eatthatcake

You will have a probationary period as well. They can't sack you for anything to do with your pregnancy but don't put it past anyone to find other issues they find to get rid. They have to justify it substantially but it's not a given that they can't sack you just because you're pregnant.
No probationary period in NHS.
NavigatingAdolescence · 05/02/2022 17:56

Not that it matters as the OP has few rights with less than 2 years service.

NavigatingAdolescence · 05/02/2022 17:58

@USaYwHatNow

I am a pregnant front line NHS employee. In order to qualify for maternity leave in itself, you have to have had 52 weeks continuous service in one or more NHS trusts, and informed them with a MATB1 by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant. Unless you have transferred between NHS trusts, you will only be entitled to the mandatory legal time off of 2 weeks (I would hope this would occur even without a MATB1 but I'm not sure of the legalities around the 2 week leave period).

In order to qualify for SMP, you need to have 52 weeks continuous service at one or more NHS trusts, and have informed your employer of your intention to take leave again by something like 25 weeks, you have missed this deadline.

It is my understanding that currently only front line staff are medically redeployed, e.g my colleagues are working the phones doing nurse triage or telephone appointments etc.

A secretary in an office is likely to be requested to continue to do her job!

In all honesty, I would sack this job off completely to save them and you a load of ballache!

You’re wrong. OP is entitled to leave but not pay.
Lampshading · 05/02/2022 18:01

OP after receiving a conditional offer did you not have contact with someone from your new team, likely your new manager? I can see why you wouldn't disclose at interview, but because this is a position in which you being in the 3rd trimester will need to be considered from a health and safety point of view, and depending on the role if its critical they'll need to be trying to move pieces around/advertise for maternity cover I think you've behaved outrageously. Turning up heavily pregnant on your first day in a healthcare setting I can't imagine your manager will be overly supportive. If you'd have told them after interview though they would not have withdrawn the offer (they need a good reason to and discrimination isn't an acceptable one) and would have likely even if inwardly annoyed been able to support you and plan for the next year or so.

WouldIBeATwat · 05/02/2022 18:01

@DistrictCommissioner

I would imagine notice period is 1 week on either side while she’s on probation.
No probation in NHS.

Up to Band 6 notice period is 4 weeks both ways.

Lampshading · 05/02/2022 18:01

No probationary period in NHS.

There is.

DistrictCommissioner · 05/02/2022 18:04

I am employed by the NHS right now with a probationary period of 6 months.

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 05/02/2022 18:06

I think you're being naive @BonnieConnie. Of course pregnancy discrimination is illegal but it happens all the time.

WouldIBeATwat · 05/02/2022 18:12

@DistrictCommissioner

I am employed by the NHS right now with a probationary period of 6 months.
Weird. There isn’t one in the trust I work for.

But anyway, it’s a red herring because you don’t really have any rights until 2 years anyway.

elbea · 05/02/2022 18:18

@Cheekypeach Imagine being so judgemental, I became pregnant whilst on the evra patch and it wasn’t planned. Abortion isn’t something I’d consider and I’m glad it went through with it because I’ve since had three miscarriages.

You don’t know what situations people find themselves. I wasn’t married and my partner was a deployed solider so we weren’t allowed to live together without being married. I had a great job that came with accommodation but had only graduated two years before with significant debts.

We are fine now, the job I got whilst pregnant paid lots, my husband was allowed to return home to get married, my husbands family kindly gifted us a house for your ‘another stream of income’ - we were lucky, not everyone is.

Imagine being so disparaging of a pregnant woman trying to work and make a living, I’d imagine if she posted that she wasn’t bothering and was going to just claim benefits everyone would be on here calling her lazy.

Wnkingawalrus · 05/02/2022 18:21

@elbea

I don’t know what people expect pregnant women to do. I was made redundant whilst pregnant and had to get another job. I couldn’t just sit at home and hope for the best, I had rent and bills to pay. I’m sure it was annoying for the business that hired me but to be honest, you need to look out for yourself and put yourself first. I’m sure the NHS will be fine Hmm
Absolutely. But doesn’t mean you need to be a twat about it.
Cheekypeach · 05/02/2022 18:23

[quote elbea]@Cheekypeach Imagine being so judgemental, I became pregnant whilst on the evra patch and it wasn’t planned. Abortion isn’t something I’d consider and I’m glad it went through with it because I’ve since had three miscarriages.

You don’t know what situations people find themselves. I wasn’t married and my partner was a deployed solider so we weren’t allowed to live together without being married. I had a great job that came with accommodation but had only graduated two years before with significant debts.

We are fine now, the job I got whilst pregnant paid lots, my husband was allowed to return home to get married, my husbands family kindly gifted us a house for your ‘another stream of income’ - we were lucky, not everyone is.

Imagine being so disparaging of a pregnant woman trying to work and make a living, I’d imagine if she posted that she wasn’t bothering and was going to just claim benefits everyone would be on here calling her lazy.[/quote]
Relax. I’m not judging people for getting pregnant, but surely even you can acknowledge that to the employer, their business or workplace is their primary concern, not the baby of a stranger? And that hiding an advanced pregnancy until the first day of the job is deceitful, as well as doing OP no favours?

BonnieConnie · 05/02/2022 18:27

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

I think you're being naive *@BonnieConnie*. Of course pregnancy discrimination is illegal but it happens all the time.
When did I say it didn't happen? Please tell me where I said that? If it does happen, there are legal routes to take for discrimination. Being dishonest is still not ok.
Rrrob · 05/02/2022 18:30

Please tell them asap. It’s fine to be pregnant when starting a new job, it’s not fine to withold this information at such a late stage in pregnancy, it seems really dishonest. I hired someone last year who announced her pregnancy before starting the job. Given her honesty I pulled strings to get her full maternity pay (she was entitled to nothing, not in the UK). I absolutely would not have done this if she had rocked up heavily pregnant and had said nothing beforehand.

HeyBlaby · 05/02/2022 18:33

@Cheekypeach

So if you find yourself pregnant and not in a great place financially, you get an abortion? Not every pregnancy is planned, I'm sure you're aware of that.

BonnieConnie · 05/02/2022 18:34

@elbea Missing the point again entirely. NOBODY is judging the OP for getting pregnant and needing a job. It's about her dishonestly in not disclosing her pregnancy in advance of turning up on the first day, heavily pregnant.

Cheekypeach · 05/02/2022 18:35

[quote HeyBlaby]@Cheekypeach

So if you find yourself pregnant and not in a great place financially, you get an abortion? Not every pregnancy is planned, I'm sure you're aware of that.[/quote]
No. But I wouldn’t rock up to a new job heavily pregnant having said nothing either. That’s what’s being criticised here, not OP getting the job. What has she gained from lying?

HeyBlaby · 05/02/2022 18:37

@WouldIBeATwat regardless of time with the company, you still have the right not to be discriminated against because of a protected characteristic.

HeyBlaby · 05/02/2022 18:38

@Cheekypeach you only referenced being financially stable before becoming pregnant within your post.

Cheekypeach · 05/02/2022 18:39

[quote HeyBlaby]@Cheekypeach you only referenced being financially stable before becoming pregnant within your post.[/quote]
Doesn’t mean that’s the entirety of my thoughts.