Pregnant job hunting

delerium

HI guys I am looking for a little advice.....


I work for the NHS, have done for years. I am currently in the fortunate position (i know) of having a job but I am miserable in it and am desperate for a move. I have applied for a number of jobs all within the NHS and I am yet to hear about interviews and the like. Issue is that I am now 12 weeks pregnant.

Now I know that it is illegal for anyone to ask or make job decisions based on pregnancy however I am also aware of the politics flying around presently and that noone is going to want to offer a job to someone who will be around for 3 months 4 at a push then off for potentially 12.

I plan to only take 6 months mat leave and to work right up to my edd like I did last time (though only if I have moved jobs otherwise I will take every last second I can get off as I am that miserable presently). What I am wondering however is when do I let the potential new boss know that I am expecting?

Do I potentially scupper my chances and mention it at interview (obviously at the end and clearly outline my plans of shortened mat leave etc)? Wait see if they offer me the job then mention it (potentially screwing over chances of future progression !!!!ing people off?)

I generallly look pregnant anyway as I desperately need to loose weight so hopefully actually showing shouldn't be a major issue.

Thanks guys for any advice you can offer. I have made a point of saying it's within the NHS as I know there will be those that say about the cost etc of mat leave but the NHS will be paying my mat leave no matter where I am as I am not leaving their employ (and yes I do know how fortunate I am to a have a job and b have mat rights)

delerium

Kate78

You don't have to tell your employer (or prospective employer) that you are pregnant until 15 weeks before your due date.

Could you deal with any (potential) bad feeling or office politics when you went back if you got the job and witheld this information?

Would you feel OK with witholding this information and dropping your new employer into having to recruit again after only 3 months?

You're going to be away on maternity leave anyway, so can't this decision wait?

It's down to your own circumstances really, you seem pretty clued up on the facts.

David_Brent

delerium wrote: »

HI guys I am looking for a little advice.....


I work for the NHS, have done for years. I am currently in the fortunate position (i know) of having a job but I am miserable in it and am desperate for a move. I have applied for a number of jobs all within the NHS and I am yet to hear about interviews and the like. Issue is that I am now 12 weeks pregnant.

Now I know that it is illegal for anyone to ask or make job decisions based on pregnancy however I am also aware of the politics flying around presently and that noone is going to want to offer a job to someone who will be around for 3 months 4 at a push then off for potentially 12.

I plan to only take 6 months mat leave and to work right up to my edd like I did last time (though only if I have moved jobs otherwise I will take every last second I can get off as I am that miserable presently). What I am wondering however is when do I let the potential new boss know that I am expecting?

Do I potentially scupper my chances and mention it at interview (obviously at the end and clearly outline my plans of shortened mat leave etc)? Wait see if they offer me the job then mention it (potentially screwing over chances of future progression !!!!ing people off?)

I generallly look pregnant anyway as I desperately need to loose weight so hopefully actually showing shouldn't be a major issue.

Thanks guys for any advice you can offer. I have made a point of saying it's within the NHS as I know there will be those that say about the cost etc of mat leave but the NHS will be paying my mat leave no matter where I am as I am not leaving their employ (and yes I do know how fortunate I am to a have a job and b have mat rights)

delerium

Seems a bit unfair to dump your new employer like that - how would you like it if you were recruiting for your business and someone accepted the job you offered said oh im prgnant give me nine months off on full pay and you can employ a temp to cover me until I come back? I'm sure you wouldn't be very popular upon your return to work.

Honesty is the best policy...

Isn't it worth putting the job change on hold until you have had your child?

Kate78

David_Brent wrote: »

give me nine months off on full pay and you can employ a temp to cover me until I come back?

Ermmm.... statutory maternity pay is 90% of full salary for 6 weeks and £124.88 for the next 33 weeks and it's paid through the employer but reclaimed from the government...

But yes, I get the point that it is highly annoying for the employer who has to juggle the staff changes and bear the cost of recruiting/possible agency fees.

Still the law is on the side of the employee and she must make whatever decision she sees fit.

David_Brent

Kate78 wrote: »

Ermmm.... statutory maternity pay is 90% of full salary for 6 weeks and £124.88 for the next 33 weeks and it's paid through the employer but reclaimed from the government...

But yes, I get the point that it is highly annoying for the employer who has to juggle the staff changes and bear the cost of recruiting/possible agency fees.

Still the law is on the side of the employee and she must make whatever decision she sees fit.

Ah ok maybe not on full pay but really does mess the employer around big time. You are right though the law...however right or wrong it is may be is on your side so is your choice if you wish to be honest or not.

Person_one

David_Brent wrote: »

Seems a bit unfair to dump your new employer like that - how would you like it if you were recruiting for your business and someone accepted the job you offered said oh im prgnant give me nine months off on full pay and you can employ a temp to cover me until I come back? I'm sure you wouldn't be very popular upon your return to work.

Honesty is the best policy...

Isn't it worth putting the job change on hold until you have had your child?

The OP made it clear that both her current job and any new job would be for the same employer, so they would be paying her regardless, in fact they'd actually be saving money if she got a new one as she'd take less time off.

The only downside for her new bosses would be the loss of her labour (no pun intended) for six months and the need to find a mat leave cover fairly soon. However given the huge volumes of people desperate for NHS jobs at the moment I wouldn't have thought they'd have any problems.

FIK

Our society (threw law) has stated that you do not need to tell because you may be discrimanated against. If what you were doing was unfair then people should loby to change the rules. I would say you are behaving very well, but don't be naive you will ruin your chances. Don't be too nice.

I think the others should stop the emotional presure. You have every right to apply for jobs and the fact that you are pregnant is not an issue. The fact that your employer will have to replace you is not your concern and just a fact of life. In the UK we are so child unfriendly. You may want to tell them once you are in the door and safe. If they are not happy with it then you know you were right not to tell them.

Watch out for your maternity pay because you need to have had minimum time in current job to qualify. I know cos I was caught out and got nothing in statutory pay ( or very little).

David_Brent

Person_one wrote: »

The OP made it clear that both her current job and any new job would be for the same employer, so they would be paying her regardless, in fact they'd actually be saving money if she got a new one as she'd take less time off.

The only downside for her new bosses would be the loss of her labour (no pun intended) for six months and the need to find a mat leave cover fairly soon. However given the huge volumes of people desperate for NHS jobs at the moment I wouldn't have thought they'd have any problems.

Oh she seems to have stated that 'within the NHS' - The NHS is a big place she could be working at a hospital or a primary care trust etc. Which we already know, have lots of different managers...!

FIK - I'm not going to get into the politics of of the whole pregnancy and work scenario, because I have my own opinion and very much disagree with the way the law is set out under these circumstances, as many others do.

Kate78

David_Brent wrote: »

FIK - I'm not going to get into the politics of of the whole pregnancy and work scenario, because I have my own opinion and very much disagree with the way the law is set out under these circumstances, as many others do.

Don't feed the troll! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Jox

What is the problem with your current role? Is it the job you are doing or the people you are working with?
It might be more stressful to look for another job and have interviews than to sort out whatever the issue is with your current role.
It took me 4 months to find a job when I left mine because I was unhappy with the way a colleague was treating me, rather than sorting out the issue (it felt like bullying to me) and then I found it very stressful being unemployed with mounting bills to pay.
Can you get signed off for a week to think about how to make your work situation better until you leave for maternity?
Having been unemployed has made me value my job more and even when I am bored at work or annoyed with my boss or hating the commute I remember those months of uncertainty and feel grateful for what I have.

David_Brent

Kate78 wrote: »

Don't feed the troll! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

And that is it - I am a troll becasue I have an opinion. Game over.