Would you tell a potential employer you are pregnant?

speedbird1973

The arguments for both sides have been done here. The only point I'll make is that you'll be a new employee there, with limited rights. If you don't tell them, and they find out and don't like the fact you hid it from them.. well they can't get rid of you on a whim anyway.

You need to make your own decision.

sammyjo1979

Well thanks for all your replies, most of which I can see too.

My interview last week was cancelled due to sickness. The agency just rang text me and said that they are now interviewing this week and was I okay for all days. So I replied and said yes I was but also told her that i'd found out I was pregnant.

After some congratulations etc etc texts between the two of us, I asked if she would still be putting me forward for the interview. She replied that she would be, but she would need to tell the employer (which is fine by me) and that she would come back to me as they want someone in the roll for at least 2 years solid!

So I guess i'll just have to wait and see now as to whether my interview will be rescheduled....

honeypop

sammyjo1979 wrote: »

I asked if she would still be putting me forward for the interview. She replied that she would be, but she would need to tell the employer (which is fine by me) and that she would come back to me as they want someone in the roll for at least 2 years solid!

Something I forgot to put in my post the other day, when I told the agency I was with that I was pregnant and asked if she had to tell employers, she said no, it was confidential between me and the agency, and she couldn't tell the employers without me requesting her to. I assumed this would be the same with any agency, rather than them HAVING to tell employers.

zzzLazyDaisy

sammyjo1979 wrote: »

I asked if she would still be putting me forward for the interview. She replied that she would be, but she would need to tell the employer (which is fine by me) and that she would come back to me as they want someone in the roll for at least 2 years solid! .

I think your contact at the agency needs some re-training! Firstly *she* does not have to tell the employer, because it is your legal right not to do so (please lets not get into another debate about legal rights vs morals - I am talking about the law here)

And secondly, she has implied that there is now some doubt about your position (she'll have to get back to you as they want someone in the post for two years solid). If they cancel your interview on those grounds it is blatant discrimination.

sammyjo1979

Yeah a friend of mine said that *she* didn't have to say anything. I guess i'll just have to wait and see now if my interview does get rescheduled or if I get fobbed off somehow..... Thanks for all your info, has been very much appreciated

harryhound

I worked for a company and the news leaked out that they were going to relocate to a new town where a new office was being built and should be ready in 13 months time.
An amazing number of female staff did the redundancy (big firms were generous in those days) calculation and appeared at their redundancy bash, expecting their first happy event.
(perhaps they had been sharing the magic chair?)
I was at the time doing a study on off the job accidents and sickness - having a baby without the safety net of employment is a risk - in a significant number of cases things do not turn out quite as visualised in the "happy event" dream.

123cherryj

Employers should not legally ask you anything in relation to pregnancy at interview. I would have said nothing to the agency as this may have inhibited your chances of being selected, especially if they have informed the employer. I agree with Daisy's views. Even if you have to complete a health declaration this should remain confidential from the employer. By law you can inform your employers of your impending baby at latest by the 25th week of pregnancy, although if you do not inform them you will not be able to get time off for scans, appointments etc. I think you would be unlikely to be eligible for statutory maternity pay, but may be entitled to staturory materniry allowance, if you have worked I think for a total of 26 weeks out of 66 weeks prior to the due date. This can be with different employers and doesn't necessary have to be a 5 day week. Many of the points of view are from small businesses which I do empathise with and understand their views. However, if you were entitled to SMA it is the government I believe that pays it and not the employers. In this dog eat dog world, I would in hindsight not have revealed the pregnancy and if colleagues want to gossip let them. It may be yesterdays news when they find something more interesting to talk about about. Good luck.x

jamespir

yes and i'd have to tell the papers i could make millions .....

seriously though you should tell them becasue it could turn out bad if they were to find out later

Uncertain

sammyjo1979 wrote: »

Well thanks for all your replies, most of which I can see too.

My interview last week was cancelled due to sickness. The agency just rang text me and said that they are now interviewing this week and was I okay for all days. So I replied and said yes I was but also told her that i'd found out I was pregnant.

After some congratulations etc etc texts between the two of us, I asked if she would still be putting me forward for the interview. She replied that she would be, but she would need to tell the employer (which is fine by me) and that she would come back to me as they want someone in the roll for at least 2 years solid!

So I guess i'll just have to wait and see now as to whether my interview will be rescheduled....

Well, unless the agency asked (and obtained) your specific permission to tell the prospective employer I would have thought they have broken their duty towards you. Perhaps xxxLazyDaisy can tell us if this is actionable?

Unless the employer is completely stupid they will no doubt still interview you as it would be the most blatant discrimination not to. However I suspect your chances of being offered the job have plummeted. If I'm right this will not be easy to prove......

sammyjo1979

Well I rang the agency this morning to ask about the interview. Apparently I am no longer required for interview. They have selected 4 other candidates from elsewhere.

I have told the agency I find this very suspicious considering they were more than happy to see me last week! She says she has not told them, but she cannot force them to see me, which is true.

I did question her about having to tell them employer, she said she is fully aware that she doesn't have too. I gently reminded her that I have a text message from her telling me that she has to tell her client, that they wanted someone solidly for 2 years and and also that I am likely to struggle with getting a permanent job.

She hasn't come back to me as yet.

I don't think she has told the company, but I wonder if she has got cold feet about putting me forward. I guess it's something i'll never know!