2 perm job interviews. Tell them I’m five months pregnant or not?

[sellotape12]

I was dismissed right the end of my six month probation a few weeks ago. It’s a messy case of likely pregnancy discrimination but that aside, I’m also out of work and I’m due to give birth in April. A couple of lovely people from my network have got in touch saying that they have open permanent roles. So I’m going to have an initial chat with them, but should I tell them that I’m pregnant? I’ve been assuming that if I get any work it will have to be Freelance or supply until April but I would rather have permanent. In either case I will not qualify for statutory maternity pay, I know that. This is more about whether to admit it or not in a first chat? Think kind, clever good people whom I already know a little bit… It would be a reasonably mid to senior role (no management, no running a department)

I know what a mad set of replies. And obviously I was talking about the first chat – I did say that. It will be over zoom. I’m going to tell them eventually because it’s very obvious that I’m pregnant. I’m asking, do I mention it in the first chat or wait until it gets to a second or third?

And you can't 'un-say' it

Depends if you need the job or not!

I think you should have the initial chat and decide whether to tell them or not based on how things are going during the chat. It may be that they are not in a rush to fill the roles (e.g. they wouldn't need maternity cover) so they don't mind waiting, and there is no need for you to worry about possible discrimination. It may also be that it's useful for you to tell them so they aren't wondering why you were dismissed from your previous job and imagining problems with your work.

You cannot believe two things at once. If you agree pregnancy should be, as it rightly is, a protected characteristic, then the employer having to make reasonable adjustments is correct. It is not the employee's concern. This is why we have such employment laws. So that women are not discriminated against, including losing opportunity of employment, due to pregnancy.

The internalised misogyny on this thread is wild!!

It doesn't need to be thought about very hard.

She doesn’t need to tell them at this stage. A job is offered on merit. You cannot decide not to employ someone just because they are pregnant. It 👏 is 👏 against 👏 the 👏 law.

I wouldn't have thought so many mumsnetters would be against employment law but there you go 😂

Wait until you have a contract in hand.

Absolutely bonkers 🤣🤣

I would tell them yes. Mainly because if they are the kind of employer who would choose not to hire you due to being pregnant then they are also the kind of employer who will have no qualms about it “not being a good fit/failed probation etc” when they do find out in a few weeks anyway so I’d rather just know sooner than later, rather than be back job hunting again next month at 7 months pregnant.

The law is one thing but the reality is that actually they can let a new member of staff go for any reason or no reason especially in those first few weeks, as long as they don’t outright say it’s pregnancy related/discriminatory.

The kind of employer who would refuse to hire due to pregnancy is the same employer who would just let you go for “another reason” when they find out anyway, so rather know that sooner than later.

I interviewed pregnant a few years ago. I was 3 months pregnant when they offered me the job and I told them when they offered it. They still hired me. By telling them before or during interview you risk pregnancy discrimination.

Noooo of course not

This. 100%

100% definitely tell them.

Noooo of course not

I think you will have to tell them. It's not just about mat leave money it's the time you would have off of work.

I think you should be open and honest. I wouldn’t want to risk working somewhere that resents me for going on maternity leave not long after joining and only didn’t rescind their offer due to employment law.

By being honest up front, if you get offered the position you ensure that they definitely want you and that they are not a company that discriminates against pregnant women.

If you don’t get an offer at either then you have dodged a bullet, especially if you plan on having future children.

It would be interesting to compare the answers if the question was 'should i tell my potential employer about a hidden disability'. Would some posters still say 'yes they might have not employed you if they'd have known and so its not fair on them to hide it' !?

I think it’s only fair. They aren’t advertising a job only to have it be vacated for a year.

But she would be coming back?

Whether she had been there 6 months, 6 years or 16 years they would need to cover mat leave.

Pregnancy is a voluntary state, not an involuntary disability.

Totally different. You may need adjustments. To answer you though I wouldn't say anything! However OP will be taking around 9 months off or even longer.

I don’t think training someone for three months only to have them bail for a year’s leave IS a reasonable accommodation.

Employment is a two-way street; it shouldn’t be 100 percent on the employer to give, give, give. What value are they getting in return for the costs of this hire? Not much.