Feel job is not safe but want to start TTC next month - applying for jobs

Rockporkchop

They can make you redundant if you are pregnant - they just can't make you redundant or discriminate against you because you are pregnant.

leanneq

Oh right, well my friend works works for a big company and they refused - they were doing redundancies and she had volunteered. Maybe they are just scared to. Either way, i would think most companies would think the same way

honeypop

True, they can make you redundant while pregnant, but not BECAUSE you are pregnant.

Catzpaws - I would start trying as planned. I was TTC and heard rumours of redundancies in my workplace, and considered stopping because of all the uncrertainy surrounding that. But we had already been trying for nearly 12 months and were not going to stop because of something that may not even happen (as is your situation). I also considered looking for a new job so I could already be in one when I finally got pregnant, but then you never know the same thing could happen there and you may not have been made redundant in the first place from your current job, so I stayed. Redundancies were made a few months later, which didn't include me, but then another round was made and it did include me (I was the only person in my dept), by that time I was 9 weeks pregnant. My employers knew from 6 weeks, but there was nothing they could do, they were stripping the company back to the bare minimum. I was on a 3 month notice but there was no way I could wait til I was 5 months pregnant before getting another job, so we agreed I could leave early if I found a new job. I got offered one when I was 3 months (wasn't showing so didn't mention it), and told them I was pregnant after I had been in the job a few weeks and knew it was somewhere I wanted to stay. There was no problem, they were happy for me and said if I'd have told them at interview I'd have got the job anyway as I was the best person for it, that's why I was hired.

I only qualify for maternity allowance but like MrsTine, we managed to save a good few thousand to cover my time off as it was a HUGE drop in income.

Li0nhead

OP sod it, what happens, happens.

Think about it this way it could be a good time to have a child. Because by the time you finish meternaty leave things should have picked up.
You will find a way through it if the worst happens. Remember there is no perfect time, all throughout our lives something is going on that might get in the way and makes it 'not the ideal time to have children' but people just get through it.

Don't worry about it unless it happens.

galvanizersbaby

Catzpaws wrote: »

Yeah, that does sound pretty black and white! But, no worries at all. All of this has been swimming in my mind for a few months now.

The main reason why it seems precisely planned is because it is! We can't say when we'll get pg, of course, but we are working very hard at the moment to becoming debt-free next year so that we can afford to have a reduced income. These things, sadly, need a lot of planning!!

You are right that there are too many variables that I can't control...but, the kind of person that I am, if I'm doing something, I want to do it properly (e.g. job, motherwood, whatever).... I am one of those types![/QUOTE]

Hi Catzpaws

I remember your first post - so sorry to hear of your ectopic x

My advice to you re the highlighted in bold is try to stop your head from spinning (I know it's easier said than done :rolleyes:) - there are some things in life you can't control as you've said and in my experience motherhood is one of those!

If you want to apply now for other jobs then go ahead - do what's best for you -don't worry about what others think - start your TTC when you want to - I wish you all the luck in the world

BTW - I have no personal experience of ectopic pregnancy but 2 friends of mine sadly had their first pregnancies end this way and neither of them appeared to suffer reduced fertility - fingers crossed it will be the same for you

Catzpaws

honeypop wrote: »

True, they can make you redundant while pregnant, but not BECAUSE you are pregnant.

Catzpaws - I would start trying as planned. I was TTC and heard rumours of redundancies in my workplace, and considered stopping because of all the uncrertainy surrounding that. But we had already been trying for nearly 12 months and were not going to stop because of something that may not even happen (as is your situation). I also considered looking for a new job so I could already be in one when I finally got pregnant, but then you never know the same thing could happen there and you may not have been made redundant in the first place from your current job, so I stayed. Redundancies were made a few months later, which didn't include me, but then another round was made and it did include me (I was the only person in my dept), by that time I was 9 weeks pregnant. My employers knew from 6 weeks, but there was nothing they could do, they were stripping the company back to the bare minimum. I was on a 3 month notice but there was no way I could wait til I was 5 months pregnant before getting another job, so we agreed I could leave early if I found a new job. I got offered one when I was 3 months (wasn't showing so didn't mention it), and told them I was pregnant after I had been in the job a few weeks and knew it was somewhere I wanted to stay. There was no problem, they were happy for me and said if I'd have told them at interview I'd have got the job anyway as I was the best person for it, that's why I was hired.

I only qualify for maternity allowance but like MrsTine, we managed to save a good few thousand to cover my time off as it was a HUGE drop in income.

Hi honeypop
Thank you SO much for posting your story. And, congrats that everything worked out for the best in the end! That’s so lovely to hear.
Since the start of the year, it’s been such a rollercoaster of emotions and decisions for me and OH. As well as the ectopic, which created indescribable sadness, the work insecurity stuff has caused quite a lot of additional stress. It’s so demoralising to think that your job can go. It doesn’t help that I don’t feel that I’m performing at the moment (as no work) – very frustrating and demoralising.
*sigh*
But, so pleased that everything turned out great for you. Hope will be the same for me too.

galvanizersbaby

leanneq wrote: »

Oh right, well my friend works works for a big company and they refused - they were doing redundancies and she had volunteered. Maybe they are just scared to. Either way, i would think most companies would think the same way

In my experience (I work for a big company also) voluntary redundancies are treated/handled very differently to compulsory redundancy.

You are not safe from redundancy because you are pregnant sadly.

Catzpaws

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

Catzpaws wrote: »

Yeah, that does sound pretty black and white! But, no worries at all. All of this has been swimming in my mind for a few months now.

The main reason why it seems precisely planned is because it is! We can't say when we'll get pg, of course, but we are working very hard at the moment to becoming debt-free next year so that we can afford to have a reduced income. These things, sadly, need a lot of planning!!

You are right that there are too many variables that I can't control...but, the kind of person that I am, if I'm doing something, I want to do it properly (e.g. job, motherwood, whatever).... I am one of those types![/QUOTE]

Hi Catzpaws

I remember your first post - so sorry to hear of your ectopic x

My advice to you re the highlighted in bold is try to stop your head from spinning (I know it's easier said than done :rolleyes:) - there are some things in life you can't control as you've said and in my experience motherhood is one of those!

If you want to apply now for other jobs then go ahead - do what's best for you -don't worry about what others think - start your TTC when you want to - I wish you all the luck in the world

BTW - I have no personal experience of ectopic pregnancy but 2 friends of mine sadly had their first pregnancies end this way and neither of them appeared to suffer reduced fertility - fingers crossed it will be the same for you

Thank you... so much.

I know, you are right in what you're saying. I need to relax a bit about it. I just feel like everything's on hold until we (a) get debt-free (b) get pregnant. But, y'know, it's silly to live life waiting, waiting... cos life passes you by. Ridiculous really as I should have so much to enjoy in the meantime (apart from work :rolleyes:!)

Because of left tube was removed and they're not 100% sure if right tube is okay or not (can't tell from outside -said consultant), this can reduce chances of fertility. Egg likes to be wafted along these tubey-things!!

Catzpaws

MrsTine wrote: »

Practical advice - wait until you have been in your new job a month or 2 at least... I know you'd qualify for SMP if you fall pregnant after you start there, BUT I'd say wait until you have passed any probation period... Or until you know if your company is likely to make you redundant...

Really good point about probation period... Never thought about this.

And also quite important - find out what the maternity policies are with any companies you apply for... It will have a bearing on how long you decide to stay home afterwards - ie if it's a great company policy (check if there is a delay before it kicks in ie if you have to have worked there for x months before qualifying... some companies state you don't qualify until you have passed your probation) vs SMP which is pants! (let's put it like this... less than 1/4 of my month salary - that's a huge hit!)
I can understand the urge to have a child now - I had the little munchkin in my avatar earlier this year at the age of 29 - but I have no intention of having another for a couple of years... But some of my fellow mummy friends have had their first ones in their mid/late 30s and have done just fine...

How would you find out about maternity benefits - other than thru the power of t'interweb? I saw this job advertised for a role in a large organisation and tried to do some research online, but could find anything. Any ideas?

"some companies state you don't qualify until you have passed your probation) vs SMP which is pants!" Sorry, what do you mean by this? Do you mean the company's own plan doesn't kick in until later than SMP would?

TBH, I am not relying on anything beyond SMP in any case. This is what current employer offers and, from what I understand, is very much typical - sadly (as next to nothing compared with a normal wage).

I guess it depends on how desperately you want to start NOW and if you can see the benefits in waiting until things are stable again... I made sure I had about £4000 cushion in the bank to cover debt payments and bills etc so I can be home till Feb - Means my little girl will be about 8 months before I go back to work (well... could depend... work might not agree to my flexible work request meaning I have to look elsewhere for a job... - this is something else you have to think about. Can you return to work with a small one? Is it based in an office and are the employers flexible etc etc - mine are decididly not at the moment by the looks of things and it means I have to try and job hunt whilst looking after a small person... not fun)

If still job around, my current employers would probably be flexible with part-time hours/job share/working from home.

Sorry to hear your employers have not been accomodating. Stress you don't need. Will you only stay if they agree to flexible working?

carolineb23

Catzpaws you sound exactly like me!! I really want to start TTC but am worried about my job. My head is saying wait until middle of next year to get some more money saved, and my heart is saying I can't wait any longer!! I think what MrsTine was saying about company maternity pay is that in some companies you have to have been there for a certain period of time before you get their 'enhanced' mat leave package. The NHS works like this I believe. If you've been there less than a year I think it's just SMP.
I haven't much in the way of advice I'm afraid, as I feel the same as you, but I hope you make the best decision to make you happy.