Getting a new job while pregnant!?

[Twenty99x]

Hi everyone

I am 16 weeks pregnant and had to leave my job as a dog groomer as I had to much pressure on my shoulders where I was. Obviously I’ve now got to look for something else but wondering if I’m completely fucked as I don’t know if anyone will employ someone who is already pregnant and will need to go on maternity leave in a few months time! Of course I plan on going back to work whatever I do but just wondering if anyone else has been in this position and it’s worked out okay?

Did you manage to get maternity pay etc?

Also has anyone else started their own business while pregnant too? Before I found out my plan was to start my dog grooming from home but again I don’t want to start something up if I have to stop in for a few months!! Having a bit of a panic!!!

Thanks xx

Hello! I work in recruitment and actually faced both of your scenarios :D I started a business while I was pregnant with my 3rd and applied for a job while I was pregnant with my 4th.

Legally: An employer cannot discriminate against you because you are pregnant. It is a protected characteristic.

But I will be honest. I have been in situations where I have worked with managers who interviewed candidates who are pregnant, and it really depends on the manager and what sort of person they are. More often than not I have seen there is a subconscious preference for someone who is not pregnant because they don't want to go through the 'headache' of having to replace someone again in a few months time. Other managers really don't care and just want the best person for the job, but you don't know which one you will have on the other side as a candidate.

My advice? Apply and go for interviews but don't tell them you are pregnant until you have the offer in writing. Then tell them you'd like to accept but also want to let them know that you are pregnant. This way you remain in control and you are 100% sure that they will not discriminate against you for being pregnant.

Regarding mat pay, you may or may not get something. Most employers have a policy in place where you have to have worked for the company for x weeks before falling pregnant to qualify for the enhanced pay they may offer, but even if you don't qualify for statutory mat pay, you can apply for maternity allowance instead but it will not be a lot of money. gov.uk will have a lot of info on this and will also have a calculator you can use to estimate how much you are likely to get paid x

Ahh thank you that is helpful to know! Didn’t think about not telling them I was pregnant until I get an offer, I will probably go down that path! I understand I may not be able to get any maternity pay from a new job just want to be able to work as much as I can to save up :( how did you find starting your business up? Did you wish you started after your baby was born? Xx

@Twenty99x I had to find a new job when I was early pregnant. Was interviewed on Zoom and told them after I’d accepted the offer and signed the paperwork. I’m not sure how thrilled they were (as I fully get it isn’t ideal) but in their defence they never said anything other than congratulations etc. I was 20 weeks pregnant when I started. Wasn’t entitled to any enhanced mat pay under company policy and they made it really clear they wouldn’t give anything discretionary either. So had to apply for maternity allowance. Took a full year off then went back and it’s all been fine!

@Twenty99x i think it totally depends on what your financial situation is. I found it good to work and do the ‘planning’ outside of work and earn a bit of a cushion while I was pregnant and could still sleep at night 😂 then when the baby is born you really do need a bit of time to recover and then you literally have no work on your mind which means you can 100% focus on the business and getting it up and running. One the other side, it’s good to be able to focus 100% on the business while you are not sleep deprived and hormonal! You’ll have 4 months to hammer things out until you give birth.

so in short you will probably know what is the best option for you.

is it your first?

@Twenty99x very unlikely to get maternity pay as you won’t qualify for SMP and most employers top this. You will need to apply for maternity allowance.

It may well be discriminatory to not want to employ a pregnant lady but has anyone ever considered how employers and businesses feel and cope with these kind of situations ?!

Running a business is incredibly stressful. No 9-5 schedules. It’s constant and often given the hours it’s not even well paid !

Maybe consider that there are others employed by the company you are going to work for who need the support / skills of a new colleague then you go off on maternity leave for up to a year after tops 6 months.

what can the company do ?!!

Other staff / company still need someone !

Im sorry but you chose to up your previous position knowing you were pregnant. I don’t think a company should have to deal with the consequences of your decisions.

You should just be entitled in my eyes to sone kind of benefit to see you through until the baby is born / a few weeks after.

I only had my children knowing I’d been at my place of employment for years, was going back and I only had 6 months off with both of my children ( maternity benefits not as good then )

we should be thinking of employers and businesses and not just ourselves

It’s great that some people may have the option to think like this but unfortunately not all expectant mothers do. Try not being so judgmental

I started a new job at 6 months pregnant. I was only entitled to maternity allowance but after I’d been there a few weeks they told me there would pay me in full.

I think the fact I told them in advance and that I said I was coming back after 3 months made them confident I was returning.

Hiya OP,
Not sure if the dog grooming business was self employed or if you worked for a company (and I don't know if it is too late now), but legally you do have rights as a pregnant woman:

www.gov.uk/working-when-pregnant-your-rights

Of note:

Health and safety for pregnant employees

When the employee tells their employer they’re pregnant, the employer should assess the risks to the employee and their baby.

Risks could be caused by:

heavy lifting or carrying

standing or sitting for long periods without adequate breaks

exposure to toxic substances

long working hours

Where there are risks, the employer should take reasonable steps to remove them. For example, offering the employee different work or changing their hours.

The employer should suspend the employee on full pay if they cannot remove any risks. For example, offering suitable alternative work.