Starting a new job and Pregnancy - Advice Needed

samandona

I'm looking for some concrete advice with regards to starting a new job and pregnancy.

Im 18 weeks pregnant and have just finished my FT degree. I already have a part time job but that comes in an end in the next few weeks. I have been looking for more full time employment and have recently been offered a job. They do not know I am pregnant.

As I understand it, I do no have to disclose my pregnancy to my employer until I am 25 weeks, and that would only be if I were claiming maternity pay. This will not be the case as I will not have been working for them long enough. Still, I am aware it is polite to inform them sooner rather than later.

Provided nothing goes wrong with this pregnancy, I would be hoping to work until quite late on (37/38 weeks) although this may of course change. This gives me 20 weeks, or 5 months (ish) to work for this company until I would need to leave.

I have a friend who also works for the same firm. She has told me that there is a large amount of training involved for the job, and that if I leave within a year of my employment commencing, I am required to pay back the £400 this costs.

As far as I am aware, leaving a job due to pregnancy is not classed as "leaving" unless I hand in my resignation beforehand. Similarly, they have to continue my employment after I have had my baby - they can not simply offer my job to someone else.

Am I correct in thinking this is the case? I could really do with someone telling me the facts for an individual in this situation as most of the information I have found on the internet is not designed for woman who are already quite pregnant.

I have asked for an appointment with my local CAB, but thought id post here too.

Thanks in advance.

KME91

You might get a better answer on the employment jobseeking and training board. I can't give concrete answers, but i would think that leaving a job is leaving a job regardless of reason. If you go to work for a company and sign a contract which includes an agreement to repay training fees if you leave early, you will be required to pay back those fees if you leave to have your baby, unless you are going on maternity leave and intend to return to the company. If this is the case get everything in writing from the company.

As for telling your employer, i think there is a set date prior to your due date you have to tell them, so they know when you'll be going on mat leave. however one thing to bear in mind is that the employer is obliged to do a risk assessment on pregnant staff, to ensure they are as safe as can be in the workplace, they can't do this for you if they don't know you're pregnant.

samandona

Thanks for your reply. I should have said I would be intending to return to the company after having my baby. Clearly, If i leave and dont come back before then I would expect to have to pay the training fee's. But the pregnancy would just put a break in my employment with then, rather than terminating it permanently.

From what I have read, I am supposed to tell them the date I intend to start maternity leave during the 15th week before my baby is due, so at approximatley 26 weeks. This would mean I would pretty much have to tell them I was pregnant then, and so they could conduct a risk assessment accordingly. I know I am not oblidged to tell them before this date

KME91

That sounds about right. They are obliged to let you have maternity leave and keep your job open, but there often is a qualifying period for mat pay. so yes in your situation, you should not expect to be paying back any training fees.

And don't forget you may be able to claim maternity allowance as a benefit as you're not getting mat pay. check out direct.gov for your entitlements.

neneromanova

They have to keep your job open for you to return to once your Maternity leave is over or if they mention about redundancies then they have to offer you a job that you can do on the same salary.

You won't be able to get SMP as you already know as you have to have worked for 22 weeks (i think it is) before your 25th week of pregnancy. But you will be able to claim MA for 39 weeks at a rate of £124.06 or 90% of your pay (whichever is lowest) You'll need to let the employer know in writing on the 25th week (obviously if you get the job).

RLH33

neneromanova wrote: »

They have to keep your job open for you to return to once your Maternity leave is over or if they mention about redundancies then they have to offer you a job that you can do on the same salary.

Just to clarify the bold sentence above. I have just been through this as my job became at risk of redundancy just after my maternity leave started.

If they say you are at risk of redundancy they do not HAVE to offer you a job that you can do on the same salary. However they do have to consider you for jobs that you would be qualified to do that are of a similar pay grade etc, and if you are found to be suitable then you get priority (along with any other women on maternity leave) over those who also go for the job but may be better qualified, experienced. There is a subtle but very important difference.

samandona

Thanks for your replies.

There is no virtually nonchance of me being made redundant in this job. the job its self is very secure and if i left, they would only go and hire someone else!

I know it is poor form to take on a long-term job knowing I will only be able to work for 4 or 5 months maximum out of the next 17, but they won't hire me if i tell them now and would retract the offer citing "unsuitable candidate" as the reason. My friend confirmed this and I would not be in a position to challenge them. This leaves me with very little choice.

Can you confirm then, that I have to tell them by the 25th week of my pregnancy that I am pregnant and will be taking maternity leave starting on the 25th October, for example. And that I wont be claiming SMP?

Person_one

I feel for you, but I'd be aware that if you take the job and then announce a pregnancy very soon after starting you might be working in a pretty unpleasant environment for the next few months. I'm not saying this would be a reason not to take it, but maybe something to be aware of and prepared for.

samandona

Thanks for your reply.

I know this is a situation I have considered. Mostly, the work involves interaction with other people as it is a support worker type role so there is little interaction with the office staff. But saying that, I am aware that it could make me unpopular. I am hoping that if i show enough committment to the role and to the company it wont be such a huge issue. And if this fails, then I will just have to be unpopular. If they start to discriminate because of my pregnany, I wouldnt hesitate to seek legal advice.

I know this isnt an ideal situation but as far as I can see, I have no alternative.

Plans_all_plans

Totally depends on the industry/company how they'll react.

I did the self same thing as you OP: took a full time job when I was already a few months gone, cos I'd just graduated and only had a part time job at the time. You have to look after yourself and your baby now, working and saving to have a comfortable life. When I evenutally told my employer I was pregnant they were unbelievably supportive: send cards and flowers after my daughter's birth and on my return from maternity leave, even gave me a better job and 4k payrise. At that point, I had worked for them for just 5 months and then had taken 6 months mat leave. I couldn't believe it!

You wont have to pay your training costs back cos the fact you are on maternity leave makes no difference, you are still classed as working for that company.

Look on here for more help with benefits http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/index.htm

You'll definitely get maternity allowance (as I did), but you wont get Statutory Maternity Pay.

You don't need to tell your employer you're pregnent til quite late on n the pregnancy (think it's about 6 months!) but I couldn't tell you the exact time you have to tell them, so you'll need to look it up.

Good luck and don't worry!

Pee

Try ringing ACAS. They are very helpful. I have to say i would be looking for a more family friendly employer, particularly if you are likely to be the one off work when baby is sick/ want to work part time when first going back to work.