Telling potential employers about pregnancy

starlite_2

I am currently inbetween jobs and have just recieved a call for an interview. This is a temporary 10 week position with the potential of a full time employment afterwards. However i am currently 9 weeks pregnant and am wondering if i have a legal (or moral) obligation to inform the company at interview. As it is a temp position i am worried it may unneccesarily ruin my chances of getting the job, and if offered full time employment i am well aware of the law and my entitlement to maternity pay (i.e none..in this case) should i mention it? or wait to see if i get this job and they offer me a full time position later

Murtle

Congratulations. I personally wouldn't tell, you don't have to tell a permanent employer until +/- 3months in to your pregnancy so why tell this guy. IF it turns into a full time position you can let them into your secret then!

starlite_2

aaah thanks! thats a relief..i thought it might not be a good idea to tell and fortunatley its not really obvious yet

Murtle

pmsl = just read your signature....

shelly

Hi ami Congrats on your pregnancy! Iv'e just been flicking through a baby magazine reading about exactly what you're asking as I'm currently not working but trying for a baby and I wanted to know my rights if I get a job interview.The mag says that....while it may not seem honest you don't have to tell any prospective employer that you are pregnant.The law says that your pregnancy is irrelevant to your ability to do a job and discriminating against you because you are pregnant is illegal.

So don't tell them and good luck with it!

mrcow

imported_ami wrote:

wondering if i have a legal (or moral) obligation to inform the company at interview/QUOTE]

No you don't and no you don't

It's none of their business (unless the job involved you doing anything hazardous eg. heavy lifting etc in which case IMO you should advise them).

You do not have to tell an employer about a pregnancy until you give written notice for maternity leave at 15 weeks to your due date (so at about 24 weeks).

BTW, no you won't get maternity pay, but you may be entitled to maternity allowance (£102/week for 26 weeks or 90% pay - whichever is the lesser) if :

• you have worked for 26 weeks during the 66 weeks before your baby is due, and
• you can find 13 weeks in which you earned over £30 a week

If you want any info on what your entitled to and advice about changing jobs during pregnancy, have a look here:

http://www.maternityalliance.org.uk/parents_work.htm

Congratulations BTW.

andy88_2

You never know, the temporary vacancy might be due to someone else's maternity leave.

It could work out that you end up with a job-share arrangement if it suits you both

But don't discuss it yet, as the others said

Savvy_Sue

And I've had people do this to me, and although it was a bit of a blow I didn't blame them at all, I'd do exactly the same in your position. Quite apart from anything else, 9 weeks is very early in the pregnancy, many things can go wrong, and quite a few of my friends never told ANYONE (apart from OH, usually) they were expecting until they were at least 12 weeks, often more.

Of course if you start upchucking every morning or going green at the smell of coffee, people may guess ... but sounds like you've escaped that so far.

If you're offered the permanent job and you still haven't told, then you might consider spilling the beans, but by then you'll know a) if you want the job long-term and b) whether it was a maternity leave cover!

Best of luck.

starlite_2

thanks for your advice! my interview is this morning, and i plan not to say anything..fingers crossed...

Fran

Good Luck with the interview!

starlite_2

hi everyone! thanks for the luck..I got the job! hoorah..
quite a relief as I'll be needing to start some extra saving now...