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Original poster

Would you employ a pregnant lady ?

28 replies

FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 07:51

Dh has been laid off and is sturggling to find something/anything to bring enough money in to cover our outgoings. I have been a SAHM for the last 18 months but now we have to explore avenues and one of those is me going back to work .... trouble is, I am 13 weeks pregnant !

There are hundreds of jobs out there I could do, all in the same job spec of what I used to do and have lots of experience in, I honestly don't think I would struggle to find work.

So - would you take someone on knowing they were pregnant and could only works for the next 5 or so months and then you would be potentially landed with covering them on maternity leave for 9 months ?

I would appreciate everyone's honesty as I can't see it's very likely to be honest !

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Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 08:10

.

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Lazylou · 06/02/2008 08:11

I am in a similar position to you FL, although DH is working and financially, we are struggling but coping...just. I am doing my degree and as part of that, need to be working a minimum of 16 hours. I have tried to find work in an area that is ALWAYS crying out for qualified people but because I am pg, I keep getting knockbacks. The difference is though, I am now 24 weeks and have a visible bump, plus there is less that 3 months before I go on ML so there really is no hope of me finding anything suitable now.

DD is due to start school nursery today so I am going to volunteer down there after half term once she has settled in. The teacher seemed very keen to have me help out and I am hoping that by doing so and being wonderful I will have a good chance of getting something permanent after I have had the baby.

I was given some good advice on here and told not to mention my pg (whilst I could get away with it) before attending for an interview. Now it is impossible to avoid.

I really hope you have better luck than me. You could look at temporary work? There is loads of that around here, but most of it extends beyond the time that I will be on ML so it's not really viable for me.

Good luck!

Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 08:15

Thanks for responding Lazylou

Sorry to hear you and in a situation you don't seem to be able to get around atm.

I am not visibly pregnant now so could get away with not mentioning my pregnancy but I wondered if this would be considered wrong of me - it had already crossed my mind but thought maybe it was sneaky !

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GooseyLoosey · 06/02/2008 08:16

If I'm very honest, no I wouldn't. You would turn out to be a very expensive employee in the short term. Only way I would consider it is if you had some special skills. If you really need the job, not sure I would mention pregnancy either, of course you then need to be prepared for a really hacked off employer when they find out.

Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 08:20

Appreciate the honesty Goosey - my parents run their own business so I can see this from both POV.

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crokky · 06/02/2008 08:23

Can you get yourself a temporary contract?

bossybritches · 06/02/2008 08:25

Sorry no- I'd love to morally but as the owner of a small business I couldn't afford to employ a pg lady, which saddens me but is an economic fact of life.

UniversallyChallenged · 06/02/2008 08:31

A previous employer took me on when i had dd1, knowing - from our initial conversation- we were trying for another. She took me on but even then i thought it was good of her as i could have fallen preg straight away and she only get 7 months out of me. As it was she got 18 months but tbh i wouldnt employ a preg lady on a perm basis but would on an ad hoc basis so she got a bit of extra money and i had the flexibility of finding someone else. As long as I explained it to her I would feel honest in that we both knew where we stood

Gumbo · 06/02/2008 08:36

I think it depends on what job you do. The company I work for employed a colleague of mine (who is an IT consultant) when she was almost 6 months pg! But it's a big company and they knew she'd be back after mat leave, and could afford to take her on at that stage - whereas a smaller company probably wouldn't have been as keen!

pickie · 06/02/2008 08:44

I cant remember so not sure but think you would have work for 26 weeks for an employer before you qualify for maternity pay (you will get SMP though)

I might consider employing you if you have the right skillset but probably on a six month contract

Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 09:05

Thanks all - think I am going to look down the temp route or find someone looking for a 6 month contract.
Can totally understand those who wouldn't employ a pregnant woman !

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nervousal · 06/02/2008 09:27

I can understand the economic arguements - but not employing someone simply because they are pregnant is illegal under sex discrimination legislation.

Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 11:37

I thought that was the case Nervousal but unfortunately it doesn't seem to make a difference to some employers.

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expatinscotland · 06/02/2008 11:41

In truth? No.

expatinscotland · 06/02/2008 11:42

It is illegal, nervousal, but also can be quite hard to prove that is specifically why someone was not hired if there is a pool of candidates.

It's easy enough to get round if you're even half-way intelligent.

I know it's discriminatory, but as an employer, I'd steer clear.

FillyjonkisCALM · 06/02/2008 11:48

er...

you have to. you are not allowed to discriminate on the grounds of pregnancy, and this includes actually making an offer of employment, and so on.

you would probably get maternity allowance, not SMP or contractual maternity pay-BUT iirc there is not a huge amount in it between MA and SMP?

tbh I'd consider going for something like a civil service job, if you can. Their recruitment procedures tend to be obcenely transparent...and they also tend to have structures in place to accomodate this sort of thing.

No if I were an employer I wouldn't be thrilled at having to train up 2 people in the space of a few months. And this is exactly why the law is as stringent as it is.

FillyjonkisCALM · 06/02/2008 11:50

like i say, re the difficulty of proving discrimination, this is why I'd consider something like the civil service, especially as the OP says that she has lots of experience here.

expatinscotland · 06/02/2008 11:50

Filly, I've seen this gotten round so many times it's not true.

The law is stringent, but not that stringent.

Yes, that is sad, but it does work this way, particularly in certain fields.

Lazylou · 06/02/2008 11:54

Well, I believe that I have not even been offered an interview for a position because of my pg and I intend to take the matter further because I don't see how being pg detracts from me being able to do the job for which I have trained and gained qualifications in. I was actually approached by a nursery wanting qualified staff on the Saturday and by the following Tuesday, they had changed their minds and said they wanted a trainee to work for minimum wage, aged between 17/18. That same week, the local paper came out and in there was a job advert from the nursery advertising for manager, deputy, qualified staff and assistants. As I am obviously pg, I thought it would be better to be truthful with them from the outset, but regret it now as I think it was because of this I was not given an interview.

Flowerybeanbag posted a link under one of my topics relating to this and by looking at it, the nursery have discriminated against me and I'm not prepared to settle for that. I have made inroads to suggesting a compromise, such as going on a temp contract until the regulation 3 month probation period is up (which will take me up until my ML, with a view to becoming permanent once I have the baby - even mentioned fees they would get for my baby attending) but I still have not heard anything from them, so now I can and will take it further.

Bimblin · 06/02/2008 12:04

I was in a similar situation to you and just went for 6 month contracts and was striaght up about being pregnant. Got one no problem, I think its a good middle ground and allows you to be honest. You'll get mat allowance anyway.

chrissnow · 06/02/2008 12:22

I was dishonest (ish) at my interview (nationwide HUGE firm) I just didn;t mention I was pg and they didn't ask. I was 5 1/2 months and I didn't hide the bump so they must have noticed. My boss has since said had he have done interview he wouldn't have taken me on as the job is very physical. He said in hindsight that would have been an error as I am one of the best staff he has (bless him) even whilst pg and not doing my full scope of work I was still better than most of the staff. It being a huge company they were able to employ temp staff to cover maternity so I would say large companies are a better bet.
Try some temping agencies as well. They always seem to have stuff for call centre staff (especially this time of year).

Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 12:28

Well I have had a very eventful morning !
I had sat and put together a CV and started emailing some of the jobs I have found and I've got a job

Ok ok, it wasn't from one of the ones I applied for but it'sa job no less and it pays the bills

I previously worked for my parents company before I became a SAHM, I worked my way up from the bottom to quite near the top before I fell pregnant. They have offerd me 6 months work which take me up to the end of July, I was dubious they were just doing it to help us out but it appears I am helping them out equally by knowing the job like the back of my hand and requiring no training at all.

I feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness !

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Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 12:31

DH is going to be a SAHD for the next 6 months - we are both slightly nervous about this!

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iheartdusty · 06/02/2008 12:31

congratulations!

Original poster
FoghornLeghorn · 06/02/2008 12:43

OMG, DD2 (14 months) just climbed on my lap and puckered up for a big kiss. I had a teary moment

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