Pregnant Friend Applying for a Job at my Company

bugslet

Thank you savvy, I do get grumpy sometimes:o

Les79

ChrisL123456 wrote: »

Some will ask would it have changed my mind to recommend if I knew she was pregnant before hand, unfortunately the answer is yes, I wouldn't have recommended her, not just because of the current situation I am now in, but also because this would allow me to work less hours in the next two years, some may call this selfish, but I do have my own family to think about during all of this, they will now be suffering too.

Some may call it discrimination too.

You wouldn't have recommended your friend for a job that they were suitable for merely because of their pregnancy. Seems a textbook explanation to me.

Also:

I see an earlier post questioning the practise of our company in hiring individuals, please note this job was never advertised, we were asked if anybody knew someone suitable to help the team, as it turns out my friend fit the bill and was subsequently hired. To that end I feel I have done nothing wrong, and stand by my decision to recommend.

This suggests that you were a big part of the hiring process. It saddens me to read such comments as the ones I quoted at the top. I mean, I appreciate the whole getting caught up in an unfamiliar situation but I hope for your sake that your friend doesn't cotton on as to how you *really* feel here. Not least because you could potentially land the company in hot water because you were linked to the hiring process.

I would recommend that you completely leave it. Don't speak to your friend, don't speak to your boss (if the discrimination card gets played then let it be on the manager's watch, not yours). If anyone raises the issue to you then play dumb. If boss is giving you lip then kindly refer them to discrimination laws and mention further reasons as to why you had no reason to suspect that friend was pregnant (age etc). This will all blow over in a few months when you get over your initial selfishness (read: discrimination).

Samsung_Note2

ChrisL123456 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the input, seems like the community is as divided as I have been.

My friend had the job interview, and as of yesterday was hired for the role, I didn't tell anyone in my work that she was pregnant.

As soon as she was offered the role, she informed them she is 3 months pregnant, and that she will be requiring 9 months maternity leave starting in 5 months time, this hasn't gone down too well with my colleagues. Especially as she has handed in her 6 week notice at her other job, so that means she will be with us for 14 weeks before leaving (assuming everything goes to plan)

My manager has taken this especially to heart, and is considering her position within the company, I doubt she will leave but you never know.

To that part I got dragged in for a conversation (informal obviously) asking me if I knew about the situation, to which I said I wasn't aware (obviously I was ,but trying to keep my head above water), at which point I got called a liar.

It has all got a bit playground after that, my friend isn't at all worried about starting the new role, she is very thick skinned, and under the thought that in 6 weeks time she will be walking into a non hostile environment, we shall see, but I know my manager has already looked at options for attempting to dismiss myself (a 12 year employee) and her. I doubt she will succeed, but she is a very vindictive lady to say the least.

Moral of the story, never entangle friends and work.

Well that true isn't it...did you not know about her pregnancy and lied saying you didn't...personally ive never lied in the whole of my life.

In fact im such a good person id probably make Jesus jealous...loaves and fishes...mate id dish out full on Fish and chips with mushy pea"s and a Can of Pepsi max to wash it down,dry bread and gone off fish..huh.

I wouldn't worry to much..you tried to help a friend and it back fired,well done for trying at least and as you say never entangle friends and work,so lesson learnt and all that.

If your employer is that worried about women being pregnant they could either hire men only (that men not the rather dubious mens magazine with various women of undressed states) or have a Pregnancy scanning room...there rather amazing machines,they show a very blotchy out line of a small person...;):D

motorguy

Les79 wrote: »

Some may call it discrimination too.

You wouldn't have recommended your friend for a job that they were suitable for merely because of their pregnancy. Seems a textbook explanation to me.

Also:

The company were looking for someone able to work long shifts, big hours per week and take the workload pressure off the rest of the team by virtue of being there and sharing the workload. The O/P recommended his friend, who as it transpires isnt going to be there for 6 months and is likely not to want to work +++ hours when they return.

I think that makes the friend unsuitable for the role, does it not?

Les79 wrote: »

I mean, I appreciate the whole getting caught up in an unfamiliar situation but I hope for your sake that your friend doesn't cotton on as to how you *really* feel here.

What, that the friend effectively mugged him and thought nothing of his needs or the companies needs? I'd personally be telling her exactly how i felt about being put in that position, not !!!!!footing around it.

Les79 wrote: »

This will all blow over in a few months when you get over your initial selfishness (read: discrimination).

:rotfl:

Wholly the friend being selfish and exploiting the law at the expense of the O/P and the company he works for.

Les79

motorguy wrote: »

The company were looking for someone able to work long shifts, big hours per week and take the workload pressure off the rest of the team by virtue of being there and sharing the workload. The O/P recommended his friend, who as it transpires isnt going to be there for 6 months and is likely not to want to work +++ hours when they return.

I think that makes the friend unsuitable for the role, does it not?

Listen, I don't want to get this all twisted.

OP said "if I knew she was pregnant before hand, unfortunately the answer is yes, I wouldn't have recommended her"

To me, that is textbook discrimination. Treating someone who is pregnant differently to someone who isn't.

And to address your post very briefly, but pregnancy/maternity DOES NOT make someone unsuitable for a job role when they otherwise would have been... With that logic the company should sack every EXISTING employee who goes on maternity leave.

What, that the friend effectively mugged him and thought nothing of his needs or the companies needs? I'd personally be telling her exactly how i felt about being put in that position, not !!!!!footing around it.

Each to their own!

Personally, I would prefer to lay low from everyone especially when
OP has come across as quite discriminatory with some of their comments (see above).

I'd recommend friends in the same situation as OP, but I've got a gameplan for problems like this. If nobody wants to listen to my gamplan then fair enough; good luck with your method!

:rotfl:

Wholly the friend being selfish and exploiting the law at the expense of the O/P and the company he works for.

Well, OP admitted to being selfish so there's a tick.

We haven't heard from OP's friend, so we only have a third party account as to their "selfishness". Personally, I think that is the case, but we don't have definitive proof.

Ultimately, being "selfish" isn't an issue but discrimination could well be.

happyandcontented

Les79 wrote: »

Listen, I don't want to get this all twisted.

OP said "if I knew she was pregnant before hand, unfortunately the answer is yes, I wouldn't have recommended her"

To me, that is textbook discrimination. Treating someone who is pregnant differently to someone who isn't.

And to address your post very briefly, but pregnancy/maternity DOES NOT make someone unsuitable for a job role when they otherwise would have been... With that logic the company should sack every EXISTING employee who goes on maternity leave.




Each to their own!

Personally, I would prefer to lay low from everyone especially when
OP has come across as quite discriminatory with some of their comments (see above).

I'd recommend friends in the same situation as OP, but I've got a gameplan for problems like this. If nobody wants to listen to my gamplan then fair enough; good luck with your method!


Well, OP admitted to being selfish so there's a tick.

We haven't heard from OP's friend, so we only have a third party account as to their "selfishness". Personally, I think that is the case, but we don't have definitive proof.

Ultimately, being "selfish" isn't an issue but discrimination could well be.

Do tell!.........

motorguy

Les79 wrote: »

OP said "if I knew she was pregnant before hand, unfortunately the answer is yes, I wouldn't have recommended her"

To me, that is textbook discrimination. Treating someone who is pregnant differently to someone who isn't.

He wouldnt have recommended her because she wouldnt be able to meet the requirements of the job. They need someone who can consistently work 60 hours a week - the friend clearly isnt in a position to do that going forward. Thats not discrimination its a statement of fact.

If someone wont recommend me for a job with their company because i'm irish, thats discrimination. If someone wont recommend me for a job with their company because i've back problems and need 6 months off work soon and its a busy office that requires someone who can consistently give over and above
in terms of hours worked and be relied upon to be there to do the job, then thats, surely simply fair comment, is it not?

I cant really fault them for not recommending me can i?

Masomnia

motorguy wrote: »

He wouldnt have recommended her because she wouldnt be able to meet the requirements of the job. They need someone who can consistently work 60 hours a week - the friend clearly isnt in a position to do that going forward. Thats not discrimination its a statement of fact.

If someone wont recommend me for a job with their company because i'm irish, thats discrimination. If someone wont recommend me for a job with their company because i've back problems and need 6 months off work soon and its a busy office that requires someone who can consistently give over and above
in terms of hours worked and be relied upon to be there to do the job, then thats, surely simply fair comment, is it not?

I cant really fault them for not recommending me can i?

If your friend didn't recommend you because you are Irish it might make them a bit of a sh*t, but it wouldn't be illegal. Same in this scenario, it wouldn't be illegal. OP is under no legal obligation to still recommend, and knowing the problems that it would entail for the business and for themselves personally I can totally understand why they wouldn't recommend them in those circumstances.

Had OP gone to her manager and said that it turns out the friend is pregnant then the manager would (it seems) have rescinded the offer and that would be illegal, and they'd be opening themselves up to all sorts of risks, unlimited damages etc.

OP has done nothing wrong, and it's wrong of the manager to react the way she has. As others have pointed out she should not have disclosed the pregnancy to the team. She just has to manage the situation.

motorguy

Masomnia wrote: »

If your friend didn't recommend you because you are Irish it might make them a bit of a sh*t, but it wouldn't be illegal. Same in this scenario, it wouldn't be illegal. OP is under no legal obligation to still recommend, and knowing the problems that it would entail for the business and for themselves personally I can totally understand why they wouldn't recommend them in those circumstances.

It would be discriminatory, but not illegal. Discrimination doesnt just apply to the working environment.

Masomnia

motorguy wrote: »

It would be discriminatory, but not illegal. Discrimination doesnt just apply to the working environment.

You can be hiring an accountant and 'discriminate' between those who have an accountancy qualification and those who don't. There are contexts where discriminating is illegal and where it isn't. Really feel for OP here and hope it blows over with the manager.