Dream job coincides with rainbow baby!

[CKBM]

Hi ladies, I need help! I’m managing a charity where I’ll receive maternity pay in the form of 3 months’ full pay then 6 months’ SMP. Just before I found out that I’m pregnant, I put in an application for my dream job managing a top London charity.

I found out but I still did the interview not really expecting anything. Got the call today that I’ve got the job and can’t believe it. I’m currently 8 weeks pregnant (had a scan at 6w4d and saw the heart flicker). I’m nearly 41, with 2 kids 7 and 9, had 2 m/c early this year and am overjoyed about this rainbow pregnancy 🤞🏽

However, I don’t think I’d get much in the way of a maternity package if I took this new job. From what I understand, it’d be maternity allowance only. EDD is 17 June 2023.

I’ve tried getting hold of the new charity’s maternity policy and it’s not been available. Either way, I don’t think I’ll be entitled to anything.

I’m not sure what to do.

• if I gave a ridiculously long notice period, could I string the current job out until 15 weeks before EDD/EWC (Which would be 4 months’ notice!) then jump ship and then I think I can still claim maternity from the old job. This would mean 4 months notice and I’ll go to new job heavily pregnant.
• I could jump ship asap and just take the financial hit during mat leave. It’s more important that I’ll be going back to my dream job after mat leave.
• I could speak to the new place on Monday and accept the job but by the same token, could ask what their mat policy is and maybe even say I’m pregnant so it doesn’t come as a shock!
• I could stick it out with the current job and ask new place if they’d put me on hold until after my mat leave because I really want that job.
• Probably other options

I’d be grateful for any support/advice! It’s like all my busses have come at once!

Oh I guess one last option. I could say I’ve just found out about pregnancy, I really want to jump ship but maternity pay or lack thereof is stopping me and would they consider giving me some sort of package to entice me to jump ship.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and your job offer.

I can see that it's a tough decision but I think you should take the new job. Yes you'll be missing out on 3 months full pay (of your old salary) but even if the new job only offers SMP, you'll get 90% of your salary for the first 6 weeks, followed by £156/week for the following 33 weeks. So it's only really 6 weeks of pay that you'd lose - which you'll probably feel is worth it for your dream job?

Personally I wouldn't say a thing about the pregnancy until I had a signed contract and had preferably started the job already - I also would wait until after the 12 week scan, personally, but some people prefer to tell their employer before that.

Lastly, I'm very sorry to say this but I do think you should consider how you'd feel if you didn't take the job and then had another miscarriage.

Oh bugger, sorry, ignore what I said about SMP. You won't be entitled to it. You'll get Maternity Allowance instead which is £156/week from the beginning. So you'd miss out 3 months full pay.

Take the new job.
I did this, found out I was pregnant in my notice period so only got SMP with no enhanced maternity package.
I also didn't tell my new job until a few weeks in and said I'd only just found out.

@AnotherEmma
thanks for your post. Yes it’s so confusing. I thought I’d get the 6 weeks as well then realised it wasn’t the case. I think I’d still take the new position though. As difficult as it was to read, I agree with what you’ve said re if another m/c happened again. I don’t think I’m prepared for that tbh so I haven’t even gone there in my head, but yes I would really regret it if things didn’t go according to plan. I’ve booked in a private scan tomorrow before I speak to the new employer on Monday. I’m also due to speak to a friend and cousin who are both HR experts to see what they advise.

@canteatlovefood
thanks for this. Yes I suspect you’re right but wouldn’t it be worth telling them to see if they’d give me an enhanced package? Or is that a pipe dream and super unlikely as they won’t treat me differently to another employee due to legal implications. Hmm

In the vast majority of cases, even if employers offer enhanced (contractual) maternity pay, you have to be working there already before getting pregnant in order to qualify. So by all means introduce it when you're in post, but it would apply to other employees and not yourself for this pregnancy.