Would you tell a potential employer you are pregnant?

Wine_of_the_World

I think you should not say anything. After all if you did say and were not given the job the employer would be acting illigally. So, for the employer to act legally you telling them you were pregnant at the interiew would make no difference at all.

Also, many people dont tell anyone at all when they are only 14 weeks pregant - after all it isnt anyone's business to know!

If your employer is horrid when you do tell them I think this would be proof that they would have acted illigally and discrimitated against your pregancy.

The jobs market is very competitive - there is no point in making it harder for yourself and encouraging you to be illigally discriminated against.

myothercarisaferrari

I have to agree word for word with the second poster. I think it would be very unfair on the company - they would have to spend money training you up then for you to take 6-12 months, whilst having then to get someone in to replace you and pay.

I think its a very sneaky thing to do and not fair on other people going for the job. Surely you should be concerned that your abilities will get you the job or not?

sorry, just my opinion x

iamana1ias

Oh my. Where to start with this pile of bunkum.

nemoo wrote: »

Personally, I'd stick to being honest given that it's 14 weeks and you are theoretically no longer in the period of ambiguity and know that you are definitely pregnant (despite the 1st scan not due for few weeks).

1st scan usually takes place at 12 weeks.

nemoo wrote: »

Normally (being a father of two) the employers maternity/paternity policy requires that you inform them no later than the 1st scan as it concretely establishes the pregnancy which was until that point an indication albeit a firm one.

Legally the expectant mother only has to inform her employer no later than 15 weeks before the baby is due. That's week 25. No-where near the first scan, and actually quite some time after the major 20 week scan! There's no way a father could be expected to tell their employer before this (although many may, it can't be a clause that they must). The reason for this is because the pregnancy may be terminated at any point up to 24 weeks, and sometimes will be because of problems found on the 20 week scan. There is absolutely no way an employer can insist on knowing before 25 weeks.

sammyjo1979

Wow, mixed reactions there!

Firstly I know that I would not be eligible for Company Maternity Pay or SMP so in my defense the company would not have fork out paying me and also someone who is bought in to cover me.

As for my abilities for getting the job. I have no doubt that I am qualified enough for the position and my CV shows this too, but my point is that if I was the best candidate, the likeliness of them choosing me over someone that is of the same skills as me but that is not pregnant is fairly slim.

I thought that maybe if I was successful after the interview and then offered the job, that could be a good time to tell them???

I don't like the idea of being dishonest but legally I don't actually have to tell an employer that i'm pregnant until 25 weeks.

pinkshoes

I kept quiet in my two interviews recently, but purely because I had NO IDEA I was pregnant!!

As soon as I found out, I informed the company and withdrew my application, as they weren't a huge company, and it would put them at a massive inconvenience with my disappearing when they'd be really busy.

They're still interested, so I'll get in touch with them next year when I've finished my maternity leave.

How pregnant are you? Could you go to the interview, and if offered it, THEN tell them you've just found out you're pregnant, and offer to withdraw your application?

You don't HAVE to tell them, but you won't be very respected if you keep it under your hat then announce it after you've started. People will do the maths... I guess it just depends on how much you care about respect at work.

iamana1ias

pinkshoes wrote: »

!!



How pregnant are you? Could you go to the interview, and if offered it, THEN tell them you've just found out you're pregnant, and offer to withdraw your application?

.

from the OP she's 14 weeks

Raggs_2

Wine_of_the_World wrote: »

I think you should not say anything. After all if you did say and were not given the job the employer would be acting illigally. So, for the employer to act legally you telling them you were pregnant at the interiew would make no difference at all. .

The employer is only acting illegally if she is the best qualified for the position, and they do not offer her the job because she is pregnant.

The mere fact that she is pregnant doesn't mean that if she is not offered the job, it's discrimination.

I think this is a big problem these days, people are so quick to jump on potential discrimination, and yet don't seem to see that perhaps they just weren't the best for the job (regardless of skin/sex/sexed up/social background, and any more s's).

EDIT - On topic, I'd tell them, assuming of course you don't plan to take a year off etc, state the situation, say that you felt it was only fair to inform them (perhaps gently mention the discrimination thing), and see how it goes.

Wine_of_the_World

Raggs wrote: »

The employer is only acting illegally if she is the best qualified for the position, and they do not offer her the job because she is pregnant.

I meant that there is no need to tell the employer whether or not she is pregnant as this can (legally) have no baring on whether or not she gets offered the job.

Tigsteroonie

I didn't tell any of my interviewers that I was pregnant, though it became increasingly obvious.

I know that it's incredibly annoying when a new employee starts and immediately announces they are pregnant, I've been in that situation and boy did I curse the HR team that recruited her.

But since then, I've been in the situation when I've been pregnant but still desperately jobhunting, still desperate for a paying job even if only for a couple of months until the birth.

I'm afraid it's every (wo)man for themselves these days. Say you 'fess up and they don't offer you the job because of the problems your pregnancy would cause, but they don't tell you that, instead they come up with some spurious other reason that cannot be questioned such as "the other candidate fitted our profile better". Then the successful candidate announces on her first day that she's pregnant - and gets to stay in the job. Wouldn't you feel a little angry that your honesty lost you the job?

harrup

sammyjo1979 wrote: »

Hi all

I'm in the process of being made redundant and have starting looking for work. Thankfully I have an interview lined up for tomorrow but I haven't told them or the agency I am pregnant (14 weeks).

I don't like being dishonest about it, but also I don't want to be discriminated against, which I know shouldn't happen, but sadly does.

Any advice would be gratefully received

If you need the job to provide for you and your baby and aren't legally required to volunteer the information, my advice is to say nothing. And I say that as an erstwhile employer and a fellow woman. Truthfully.... I wouldn't have taken anyone on who I knew was pregnant except in extraordinairy circumstances. So if you want the job, mumm's the word.

UNLESS the nature of the job is such that your pregnancy precludes you from fulfilling its stipulated duties until the baby is due. If it does - hmmm ....that would be deception and unlikely to endear you to your employer and colleagues.

Wishing you luck & Congratulations on the pregnancy.