Job Interview with job due to start when I go on maternity leave

Hainault26

Evening everyone,
I very surprisingly have been called in for an interview for a job that I have been looking for since completing my degree 6 years ago. I’m working at the moment and am content-ish in my current role, however due to a recent change our roles will all be changing as of September and it isn’t what I want to be doing for the foreseeable future. Also our roles were all recently at risk due to this change and we were advised to keep an eye out for a new job in case of redundancy. This is now not an worry and all of our jobs are safe. But during this time I found what feels like the perfect job for me, it’s what I trained for and I want it badly. However it is due to start in September and lo and behold I will have just had a baby (she’s due beginning of Sept). I’m obviously pregnant so will raise this in my interview the day after tomorrow. I know that legally I am not allowed to be discriminated against due to my situation, but I also understand that if I’m not available for a job that’s due to start then it’s not very likely I’ll be hired for this role. I’m hoping that I will bag this job though and they may hire someone for maternity cover or on a temporary basis (wishful thinking I know). But as they wil not be legally entitled to pay me maternity pay due to being too far gone to qualify for ther maternity pay, I will not be putting them out of pocket so maybe that’s a positive? Anyone had any experience or have any advice for me for the interview please? Any employer advice would also be great.
My other worry is bringing it up with my current employer, which I will do only if I get the job. Just worrying about maternity pay that I’d get and whether that’ll be an issue as I’ll still be employed by then until I go on the mat leave.
Thanks everyone.

[Deleted User]

This beats my do I tell my current work place I have an interview dilemma! Good on you.

Do you know if new job will be a one stage interview process?

I've just been offered a 2nd interview, 6 weeks later for a company who were 'leisurely recruiting' and with the start date that was always a little way off. So you might be lucky if start date isn't immanent that there might be more thinking time, you know you aren't then forced to make a quick life altering decision.

Hainault26

Congratulations! Wishing you lots of luck with your second interview! Also with telling your current employer. It!!!8217;s awkward isn!!!8217;t it? I!!!8217;m quite nervous about that but being as we were told to keep an eye out for other jobs I don!!!8217;t feel too bad about it. But do about going off, getting maternity pay and not returning. I feel bad about that.

I!!!8217;m not sure of the interview process, I!!!8217;ll ask more about it all on a Thursday. It!!!8217;s a term time position so is due to begin in September. Im due early September! In that case I!!!8217;m not the most ideal candidate I!!!8217;m sure! But you never know your luck eh? !!!55357;!!!56842;

Hainault26

Not sure why every time I!!!8217;ve typed an apostrophe it has been been changed to a few exclamation marks and numbers? Very weird.

theoretica

My work employed someone in your situation not long ago. She got the job, to start in a year, one of the other candidates accepted the maternity cover role. So it does happen.

You will need to check your maternity pay details, your company may offer more if you are returning after leave than if you are not returning.

DCFC79

Hainault26 wrote: »

Not sure why every time I!!!8217;ve typed an apostrophe it has been been changed to a few exclamation marks and numbers? Very weird.

Dont worry about that, its a forum issue and only affect those using iphones I believe. It's been around for a while and its not been fixed.

Good luck for the interview, you never know you could be the only 1 who they have interviewed or your the best 1 and they may be ok with you starting at a later date.

Hainault26

Thank you Theoretica, that is great to know that someone has been taken on in a situation like this. Keeping everything crossed. !!!55358;!!!56606;

Thank you also DCFC79, I!!!8217;m new to the site so had no idea what was going on. !!!55357;!!!56842;

Savvy_Sue

Once you've posted the strange characters, I believe you can edit your post to replace them with normal apostrophes.

I don't think you should feel bad about not returning after maternity leave. Just make sure you understand your employer's policy, and if you've got another job to go to then make sure they know you're not coming back. Gives them plenty of time to recruit, and helps them to know it's a permanent vacancy not a temp one they are hoping to fill.

System

I'd be very surprised if you got the role, things like this tend to play in a certain way during candidate deliberations....


Are you legally obliged to tell them btw? No idea on the law on this one. Although if you do disclose after getting the role, they'll be pretty annoyed I bet!

NBLondon

It's not clear whether this is a new role with existing employer (transfer/promotion) that the OP has always wanted or they have applied for a job elsewhere. If the former, then there should be no issue - it's continual employment and the normal rules for maternity leave must apply.

If it's the latter - does "surprisingly have been called for interview" mean the new employer has headhunted you? If so, then they may well be willing to keep the job open and hire a cover person - because they really want you... If you actually applied for the job but weren't expecting to get an interview - then the key question is "Are you available to start around Date X"? to which your honest answer would be no.

Is it unbearable to stay with your current employer - go on maternity leave as your entitled to but search again for your preferred job next September. And as said - it would be good to be honest about coming back if you have a better offer.

Savvy_Sue

andydownes123 wrote: »

Are you legally obliged to tell them btw? No idea on the law on this one. Although if you do disclose after getting the role, they'll be pretty annoyed I bet!

No, you're not legally obliged to disclose at interview, and they are legally obliged NOT to ask "excuse me are you actually pregnant or do you just look it?"