Should I take a new job whilst trying to get pregnant

[fruitstick]

I have worked for the same employer for years. I already have one child and went back part time last year. We are now ttc2.

I am tempted to apply for another quite senior job that has come up but worry about my maternity rights if I get pregnant straight away. Am also worried about annoying new employer if I get pregnant straight away.

Should I bother, or sit tight for a while?

why not go for it for the experience anyway, who knows how long the process will take or how long you will take to conceive

Your rights would be the same unless you are pg before you start. Can't really put life on hold just in case .

What everyone else says. As long as you are not pregnant when you start your entitlements to statutory maternity pay would be the same. I'd put ttc on hold for a couple of months while you apply though.

You don't know how long it will take to get pregnant, so it could be a while you are in the new job before it's an issue. Don't worry about annoying new employer, that's their problem. Even if you do get pregnant straightaway, you'll still have 7 or 8 months to make an impact in your new job and demonstrate how marvellous you are.

I would just add that you might want to think about contractual maternity pay. A lot of places make you work for a year before you are entitled to enhanced maternity pay. If you have a good package at your existing work place, you have to factor in the financial implications of walking away from that and possibly not getting anything so generous in the new job. You also need to think about whether the current package ties you in to return for a set period after maternity leave or repay the money.

That said, I agree with others about not putting your life on hold. You could be working in a job you don't want to be in for 8 months (even if met with almost instant success ), then on leave for a year, then have to come back for a year to avoid repaying the money. That's a long time to put career aspirations on hold.