Job offers vs desired babies....aaaarghhh!

[Reddybec]

Morning ladies,

Some advice needed please.

I've been in a nice snug job for the last 5 years and whilst I love my boss I also know all too well that I work for a company that is obssessed with equal pay and as such my salary will never ever rise above the levels of other employees here in my field (I'm a senior level PA).

Yesterday I was offered another job with a higher salary (£10k increase) and am now in total confusion as to what to do.

I'm not getting any younger (I'm 34) and my hubby and I have been trying to get knocked up with baby no. 1 for the last few months (well, we've been NTNP for about a year with no results and have started taking things more seriously recently).

Hubby is under the misguided impression I can take this new job and we can still keep trying for a baby. I'm terrified that if I take this new role though (and it is an amazing role with lots of scope for promotion and managerial exposure) and then get knocked up next month, I'll be left high and dry without proper maternity cover (I know I'll get standard maternity cover but won't have access to a company scheme for at least 2 years).

My current thinking is that perhaps if I do get knocked up I could take a part time job in the evenings to supplement my income while waiting to go back to work, but I'm still incredibly undecided about what to do.

Have any of you ladies ever been in a similar position and what did you do?

xx

 

[Rebuslover]

Hiya,
I am in a similarish type of senario as yourself in terms of looking at new job but planning babies. I really want the job and I really really want children (will be 31 in two weeks). The things that I have been considering are:

What mat benefits would you receive?
Would you still have a job to come back to?
Would the mat leave benefits be better if you were to conceive after the first three months of being in the new role (i.e. Will be in new role for a year before going off for mat leave)?
If the new role is withing the same company, they must value you therefore could you make a deal with them as you have been with the company > 5 years?
could you afford to be off with only smp if you and oh saved like crazy before taking mat leave? Especially if you will be getting a significant pay rise if you took the new job
Would your employers agree to part time working for that role, i.e. When you woul come back, or would you be breadwinner and oh go part time or use child care full time?

Sorry I'm asking more questions than giving answers! IMO I'd take the job (provided the job is still there after mat leave), keep ttc, save like crazy from your new paycheck before and after bfp, work out a budget how long you could live off saved cash, smp and oh's paycheck to work out how much mat leave you could realistically take.

Sorry for waffling on- hope it is helpful in some way. Good luck x x x

 

[40yearoldmum]

Yea I have a similar situation but Im also 40 so time is ticking on. Ive decided to stay at my current job because its easy and I will get the maternity and am not prepared at my age to delay. Yours is a bit trickier you are young and this jobs prospects sound good. We only have to be in a job for 6 months to qualify for the full maternity benefits. Look even if you took the job then put baby making on hold for three months then started trying and got pregnant you would still be entitled to YOUR job even though you were only on stautory benefits whilst off, that way you would be going back to your fab job. Mind on thhe other hand if your like me I just went back part time cos I dont want to leave my boy full time with care so thats another conudrum to think about , would this new company be happy with you returning to part time hours. Gosh sorry I haven't really heped, just saying stuff out loud.
Let us know what you do
Bex

 

[pigsy]

I am in the same boat, but i work in the civil service which is facing massive cuts. So do i jump or not- we have been trying for 3 years. I keep trying to tell myself that i shouldn't change my life for trying for something that may not happen but i could be jobless and babyless in 3 months. No one can tell you what is best but i work in HR and i have employed people who join us and are then pregnant - and everyone copes. Do what is right for you both and fingers crossed for the babymaking x

 

[babyhopes2010]

im in same posistion im nearly 23,iv been ntnp for 10 months then 8 months ttc.
Im debating to get a decent job with lots of scope or get boring regular job waiting for a baby.
Its a difficult one...my head says decent job etc my heart says baby........
My husband says always follow your heart x

 

[Darkphaery]

i am ttc and starting a new job on monday, the money was so much better that even if it does happen in my 1st couple of months i then have 9 months to save my extra wage. We are managing just fine on my current wage so all the extra pennies i get will go into a savings account and by the time arrives will be enough to suppliment statutory maternity pay...if that makes sense

 

[KerryGold]

I've just been through this. I'd been at my previous company for 3.5 years, assuming that having been there for over 2 years, I'd qualify for some sort of enhanced maternity cover. I was pushing for a promotion but didn't want to leave.

However, I found out that the maternity cover was pretty rubbish so decided to move to get a pay rise (£9k more). I was supposed to start TTC in July (I'm 32) and I started my new job in April. DH and I decided that I would get through my 6-month probation period before we TTC'd then I would have been there for over a year even if I caught quickly (and in your 30s that's no given). We have decided now that we can't wait anymore (a month early!) and are starting imminently. My new job has similar (poor) mat cover, but I'm trying to save the extra I earn for mat leave. And assuming I go back, I get a lump sum, which is a bonus!

I also worked out that if I go back 4 days on my current (new) salary, I'd still be earning more than I was for 5 days at my old place. I'm hoping to go back 3 days, but the drop won't be as big IYSWIM.

I guess it depends on your priorities. This was all about a baby for me. Finding a way we could afford it. I was already planning to wait a while longer and ended up making a decision to wait a little extra. As I sit here about to actively TTC, if I had to make the decision I know I'd choose to stay put as LO is now a priority for me.

Dunno if that helped at all!
xXx