Job Interviews: To tell or not to tell???

[Vici]

Worrying about what they're doing on mat leave is a whole different issue, I thought this was about whether you should tell a prospective employer that you are pg and i commented on the reasons for doing so as to whether you'd even still be working for that employer leading up to your maternity?

 

[Sarahkka]

Sorry, now I'm confused.
My posts were regarding whether or not you should feel obligated to tell your prospective employer about your pregnancy. My point was that we don't have an obligation and that there should not be any guilt involved. Employers have to be prepared for everything. That's life. And good business.
You commented that you did not think that was realistic. I argued that it was.
The mat leave comment meant that the prospective pregnant employee should not worry about what the employer will do when she has to go on mat leave in five months. That it isn't her problem and she shouldn't worry about it or feel guilty. Employers have to be prepared for all eventualities.
Does that make more sense?

 

[Vici]

Yes, thankyou for re-explaining

 

[tansey]

I am applying for a job in a school and if i get an interview it is not until 8th July and starts 1st September. I'm only just pregnant and it's still early in July and I was wondering whether i should tell them. I have decided to take it a stage at a time. The school comes under the LA and so it is not a small business so I don't have to feel guilty about that. So i won't be telling at interview.
If I got the job I have to decide whether to tell them when I start or prove that I can do the job/am good at it and then tell them. I am worried about them making up a reason to get rid of me though.

 

[Seraphim]

Vici - I think you can always look at things as 'glass half empty' - in which case you would never start a new job without the fear of god in you.

With regard to the big/small company issue - this is the major contributing factor to me looking to move. I'm currently with a smaller company (~50 employees) and I'm the only person in my department. The 'company' I'm applying at is part of the civil service. This also leads me to feel a little better about their ability to deal with realistic every day situations such as pregnancy.

I'm starting to show, will need to go shopping for the right cut of shirt which doesn't look like it's bursting at the boobs!

I want to tell them, I just don't know when.

 

[Cham]

I work in HR and have to manage cases whereby women have been employed when they are pregnant. I had a case where the maternity cover was pregnant herself!!!! When I worked in the NHS, we recruited a nurse in India and a couple of weeks after she started, we found out she was pregnant. The Nurse in charge wasn't happy with her. Not because she was pregnant, but because she lied. In order to work as a qualified nurse in the UK, she had to pass a 6 month intensive conversion course. Well, she came over and really struggled with completing the course before she went off on maternity leave. She wasn't entitled to SMP or maternity allowance. So, she had to go back to India to have the baby and then return to the UK, 6 months later and about 4 months after starting. If she had decleared her pregnancy, we would have told her to stay where she was and then start work after she had the baby.

You are not legally obliged to tell them that you are pregnant, but if finances are a concern, then you may need to really think about it before making the decision to take a new job. In order to qualify for maternity pay, you need to be employed for for 26 weeks at the 15th week before the baby is due - this equates to being employed for 3 months before you get pregnant. It is also worked out on your average weekly earnings at the qualifying week (15 weeks before the baby is due) so if your new job pays more, and you get the maternity allowance from the Job Centre Plus, you wont benefit from it.

 

[Seraphim]

Hi Cham,

Thanks.

I did my sums before filing the application, and the new position would still be of huge benefit to me. I don't have to go to India to have my baby either

My question really is one of my principles and their conflict with achieving what is best for me.

 

[Seraphim]

Well, I've found the perfect interview outfit, it looks great and there is no sign of bump.

I'm definitely not telling them at first interview (although any posts with that opinion are still welcome - I really do want to know what other people think)

Having done a lot of further reading on the company, their visions and values - not only have I found myself WAY more suited to the position than I had previously thought - but I have realised that if their ethos extends into all of those subjects as it does... then they really should be able to accommodate me / any working woman.

I've now got some names of staff from that department - several of whom are woman... so that's a good sign.

Now I just need you all to cross your fingers, and for me not to turn into a goofball on the day

x

 

[Sarahkka]

Go get 'em, sister!

 

[Cham]

If you are successful (fingers crossed) you could consider telling them then. The reason I say that is because if you've been employed for long enough with your current employer, you will be entitled to SMP, which may be better than the minimum, whereas, you won't be entitled to anything from your new employer. The new employer can keep the job open for you and you can claim SMP from your old employer.

 

[Seraphim]

Yeah, I had a quick calc on the financial implications... I've kind of put this on the back burner until I know how things start to pan out. I'm so excited, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself

If it all went well, I could still have 3 months work left in me before going on leave... (I had also planned to take at least 9 months leave) so I don't see how they can keep the job open for me without me even starting :S

The difference between SMP and MA was roughly £1500 - and the new job would have a rise of £4-5k plus benefits... so it's not a decision breaker for me. (But I do have to triple check the MA rules before making the leap)

I do feel thoroughly awful for not being able to walk in and put my cards on the table. Last night my best friends husband was asking if they'd keep the job open for me, when I said they don't/won't know I'm pregnant he said "Oh! Sneaky!"

I took this on the chin and asked him how was it sneaky - does anybody else applying for a job walk in and declare when they plan on having children??

It's the same amount of leave whether you take it sooner or later.

The thing which has shocked me - is we all seem harbour these ingrained beliefs without realising it - OR... just how unfair they are

Now I'm just hoping my CV and app say I'm up to the job, that I get a phone call tomorrow, and all this worry hasn't been for nothing

To be honest - the process of planning an escape route from my current firm has cheered me up no end. And I've now found a large agency I want to work for... who I will pursue a position with until I get one

If you are successful (fingers crossed) you could consider telling them then. The reason I say that is because if you've been employed for long enough with your current employer, you will be entitled to SMP, which may be better than the minimum, whereas, you won't be entitled to anything from your new employer. The new employer can keep the job open for you and you can claim SMP from your old employer.