Pregnant job hunting

Person_one

David_Brent wrote: »

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.

Funnily, you said you weren't getting into the politics but somehow managed to make your feelings quite clear.

I wonder if you'd feel differently if you were female or if a female you cared about was discriminated against.

Googlewhacker

Kate78 wrote: »

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

Right, so a person that has 5 times the posts of you is a troll because they offer a differant opinion (but not uncommon).

Googlewhacker

Jox wrote: »

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.

Are you kidding me? 'Yeah Doc, I'm not sure whether to take this job or not because I don't like my current situation but could you sign me of for a week so I can have a think about it!'

Gees the OP hasn't even said the word depression and people immediately start talking about time off!

If she wants time of to think about it then book it off as holiday

Fly_Baby

Well, I am female but I am happy to surrender my "rights" when it comes to job hunting when pregnant - because I realise what a hassle it is for a new person to start a new job and for the employer to train somebody new. I do think it is unfair on the employer not to say that you are pregnant and unfair to take a job when you only intend to be there for 4 months.

And after your maternity leave, you might then decide not to return back to work (for various reasons - I understand that the OP already has one child) - and the employer ends up even more screwed up, while you are still within your "rights".

No wonder so many employers have certain assumptions about hiring women of child-bearing age. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and all that you know.

delerium

Thanks for the replies....a contentious subject i know hence the reason I tried to give as much detail as possible without making it too obvious who I atually was!! but here's a little more for those that were saying is it really that bad.....

I am in a role that no longer exists, they need the money to create a new role one which changes my working hours from 9-5 mon to fri to something not at all convenient for me or my current family situation. Technically I should be subject to organisational change and therefore for redeployment but they are reluctant to allow me to do this which is also further complicated by agenda for change which banded me lower than everyone expected and I am still waiting for the review to sort that out it is now at the government stage....this would mean the level I should be at wouldn't be honoured by redeployment until the review came back by which time I would be in a lower banded post with no room to move.

So over the last 6 months my work has depleted from busy all the time to nothing to do....I currently spend my days googling, sitting on the noticeboards here and drinking coffee. I like being busy all the time and really struggling with the not doing anything and nobody seems in a massive hurry to do anything about it.

I am being pressured to sign the new job contract with threats of 'in the current financial climate your review will never come back sign this and you'll get what you're due' etc. This is when I am not being ignored or mircomanaged.....so yes for the sake of my own mental health I need to get out. But there is also the fact that at least one of the jobs I went for is the first job in that area to come up in 4 years.....

Lastly the post (whereever I am) won't be backfilled....there will be noone covering mat leave...as far as I know the NHS only cover medics on mat leave and I am not a medic (if I was I could afford to quit and just wait it out!!)

Sorry this has turned into a bit of a saga but I know this is a contentious issue with a lot of people (I have been googling all day!) and I wanted to try to be as clear about my situation as I could be so it was less about how dare you be so selfish and more about actually is it right to keep them in the dark....I guess I know my answer is that for all people believe the nhs is fair the politics say I should keep my mouth shut until I get a confirmed job offer.....

can I also add that i have every intention of going back to work (i know circumstances can change but then I could be run over by a car tomorow). They will also not need to spend masses on training me as I was doing the exact same job elsewhere....

Googlewhacker

delerium wrote: »

Sorry this has turned into a bit of a saga but I know this is a contentious issue with a lot of people (I have been googling all day!) and I wanted to try to be as clear about my situation as I could be so it was less about how dare you be so selfish and more about actually is it right to keep them in the dark....I guess I know my answer is that for all people believe the nhs is fair the politics say I should keep my mouth shut until I get a confirmed job offer.....

You may want to be careful about your internet use during work hours, yes you may have nothing to do but if they find you have been abusing work time then that in itself could be gross misconduct and they could get rid of you with no redundancy or alternate job.

whitewing

Get the job offer and then tell them. It will still give them time to plan for your absence, and may even give the other interviewees a chance to provide maternity cover.
The law is what it is and employers should be able to work positively within it.

Fly_Baby

whitewing wrote: »

Get the job offer and then tell them. It will still give them time to plan for your absence, and may even give the other interviewees a chance to provide maternity cover.
The law is what it is and employers should be able to work positively within it.

After the employer has given the OP the job offer, the employer is basically stuck with her for as long as the OP wants because they cannot a) fire her while on probation, b) fire her at all. Plus, the employer will be obliged to give her time off for hospital appointments and any other time off sick that the OP's doctor will see fit. And four months on (if even that) they will send the OP off to the maternity leave anyway, from which she may never return.

Nice.

whitewing

Fly_Baby wrote: »

After the employer has given the OP the job offer, the employer is basically stuck with her for as long as the OP wants because they cannot a) fire her while on probation, b) fire her at all. Plus, the employer will be obliged to give her time off for hospital appointments and any other time off sick that the OP's doctor will see fit. And four months on (if even that) they will send the OP off to the maternity leave anyway, from which she may never return.

Nice.

Yes. And alternatively she may work hard, take little time off for antenatal appointments, give a thorough handover to an alternative staff member, come back on a job share after maternity leave with the alternative person, cover each other's holiday for the next 20 years.

Point is, you don't know what will happen with anyone you take on.

Fly_Baby

The OP is 12 weeks pregnant already. So unless she starts on a new job on Monday and takes her maternity leave no earlier than at 39 weeks, she will not be entitled to the SMP (90% of the salary) and will only get Maternity allowance (back in 2007 it was in the region £120 per week).

It is hardy practical to change jobs now even from the financial perspective.