New job but pregnant?

skittles86

Hello I am asking this on behalf of a friend of mine. She qualified as a nurse in January of this year but went for interview months before she qualified as with nursing jobs it can take quite a few months to start due to crb, occupational health etc.
She got offered the job after going through the interview process and the formalities above and is due to start working there next month.

She has just found out she is pregnant, which is a shock as her and DP have fertility issues and were actually on the waiting list for IVF ( she rarely ovulated and DP has poor sperm)... But it only takes 1 .

Obviously she didn't tell the employer that she was pregnant because she wasn't at the time.

She would obviously need to inform them but will they say she cannot work for them even though they've already posted her contract?

Thanks

skittles86

Sorry forgot to add th she knows she will not get maternity pay from them.

clairec79

No, they can't - it would be illegal

zzzLazyDaisy

She is not obliged to tell then and if they terminated her contract on the grounds that she is pregnant, it would be unlawful discrimination. Most large employers these days accepts their obligations towards pregnant employees... smaller employers may be (but are not always) a problem. She doesn't have to say anything until the 15th week before the baby is due to be born. I suggest she takes one step at a time.

Dx

skittles86

Thank you.

lucie707

She wont get maternity pay from them but if she works for 26 weeks she will be elegible for Maternity allowance which is basically the same amount as smp and paid for up to 39 weeks.

She doesnt legally need to tell them until she is 25 weeks pregnant, i would hold off until she feels secure in her placement (eg if it has a probation period) and then tell them.

ohreally

She needs to tread very carfuly as she may well find herself being exposed to occupational hazards which may jeopardise her pregnancy... Ionising radiation, hepatitis virus, cytotoxic drugs, glutaraldehyde (& others) TB exposure etc etc.

She would be well advised to self refer to occupational health for professional advice.

kettlefish

I was in the same position last May - except I was pregnant at interview but didn't say anything. I told my employer on my second day - well before I was 25 weeks, but as a nurse I felt it was important to get the right risk assessment etc in place due to hazards like lifting, dealing with chemo, and aggressive patients to name a few. Also, it means she will get access to her rights such as time off for antenatal appointments - although personally I think you should try and have them in your days off if possible, especially since nurses tend to work shifts which aren't 9 to 5. Just makes the whole thing more relaxed, and might make it easier on the employer too. Obviously she;ll have a right to that time if any problems arise, but it doesn't hurt to keep things sweet!

Tell your friend not to worry, this is brilliant news and I'm sure most of her colleagues will be chuffed for her once they get to know her. It is a predominantly female profession and will have happened before! If anything, it's better for the employer as they don't have to pay SMP :rotfl: (that's what I told myself if I ever felt bad for "leaving them in the lurch")