What would you do?

[Ashlee]

Hi all

I'm currently in a contract role in a huge global construction company. My contract is until 30 November 2011, but the role I'm currently doing is supposed to be going permanent in the next month or so, leaving me without a role. Things do tend to happen slowly with HR here, so it could take longer, but maybe not, and they are only required to give me 1 week's notice (and vice versa). I could possibly take the role permanently, but it would mean full time hours (40) plus 15 hours travel a week. I currently work 28 hours with 12 hours travel and am 8 weeks pregnant with a 4 and 5 year old. Also, work are now aware of my pregnancy and I doubt they would hire me permanently for me to leave in 6 months time, plus I really want to get away from working in the CBD (I live on the northern Gold Coast).

I had an interview at a very large, reputable international law firm, and it went fantastically. This role is 25 minutes from home, meaning no public transport and an hour or so travel each day, so 5 hours travel per week. The role is full time (40 hours per week). It is also permanent.

My predicament lies here - if I were to be offered the role with the law firm (the opportunity is a really good one) should I:

a) Tell them before accepting the role I am pregnant, and possibly lose the offer or
b) Accept the role and tell them at 12 weeks I am pregnant and endure the possibility they may fire me, as I'm sure they'd have a probationary period where it would be ok to let me go for any reason

Any advice or help would be fantastic, I may be counting my chickens before they hatch but I am expecting a call either today or tomorrow and would like some insight on how others would go about it.

TIA!

[~StarBright~]

I would take the job if its offered to you- and tell them once you reach 12 weeks. Without being completely morbid, from personal experience and from your sig.. we both know that anything can happen in those early weeks of pregnancy, and you wouldnt want to miss out on the job opportunity for no reason. ( I'm so sorry- I didnt know how to put that nicely)

I think legally you dont need to tell them until 20 weeks or something. From what I gather there is a 3 month probrationary period of a new job, so you have a bit of leeway there to at least wait the three months and then tell them. The legally if they fire you because your pregnant then they are in big trouble!! You wont be intitled to paid maternity leave from the company or anything, so they cant be angry about that. Just 12 months off, if you want of unpaid leave.

Good luck!! I hope that you do get the job and they are a happy family friendly place to work!!

[OceanPrincess]

You are under no obligation to tell them anything. Depending on company policy, you may not have to tell them for quite some time.

Take the new job, WHEN it is offered to you Don't tell them.

[Ashlee]

Thanks SB, don't worry I don't find that morbid at all. Have had HCG monitoring and scans and it looks like this one is sticky (not to mention my inflating belly). My previous 2 miscarriages were at 5-6 weeks also, so I'm confident this bubby isn't going anywhere.

That's the thing though, I am already starting to show now at 8 weeks and know by 20 weeks there will be absolutely no hiding or denying it, it's already noticeable (I'm 56kg and 171cm tall, and second bub, so there isn't really anywhere for things to hide lol)

I'm aware they won't pay me for any time off, but are you sure about 12 months maternity leave after only being there 6 months? I thought you had to have been an employee for 12 months before they had to give you any sort of mat leave? Maybe this would be dependant on the company or is there a national guideline on that?

I guess unless I did something terribly wrong, firing me based solely on being pregnant would get them into lots of trouble....but that would be a long, drawn out process to prove if they cited some other reason.

Argh I over think everything lol the people I interviewed were fantastic, very encouraging, I wouldn't seem them being nasty - but after all, they are Lawyer's lol

[Ashlee]

You are under no obligation to tell them anything. Depending on company policy, you may not have to tell them for quite some time.

Take the new job, WHEN it is offered to you Don't tell them.

Thanks OP, girl power lol

[Mak]

I agree with OP. Take the job and bide your time - you do not owe them anything. xx

[Beautiful Disaster]

My boss didn't have to have a job for me cause I hadn't been there 12 months so I would check that out. Lucky for me my boss created a role for me to come back too

[Miss E]

The others are right, you don't owe them anything...

But, ethically what do you think is the right thing to do?

If you don't tell them till 12 weeks, or until your probationary period is up, they are still under no obligation to hold your position for 12 months (or any period of time) while you take maternity leave - you have to have been there a year to have that or the company would have to have a unique policy in place. Unless you're planning on returning to work within a month of two of having the baby, then chances are they may not keep your job open for you, especially if they think you've withheld something from them or been dishonest.

Which brings me to my next point. If I offered somebody a job and they told me then and there that they were pregnant and were planning on taking X amount of time off when the baby was born, I would respect them for their honesty and integrity right away. Providing I could accomodate their needs (ie probably less than 3 months maternity leave) and felt they were right for the job (more likely if they've been honest with me) I would still hire them because I would be thinking longer term.

So I guess it comes down to what you want out of this job - are you thinking it is a long-term proposition and somewhere you'd like to work after having the baby, or are you thinking it will be good for the next 6 months. If it is the latter, then don't tell them. But if it is the first one, I think you owe it to them (and you) to be upfront and honest. But be aware, if you're wanting to take 12 months maternity leave it could be an issue, whichever way you go.

HTH it's just my opinion for what its' worth.

[anney]

I agree with Miss E.
Not sure what type of job it is and how much training you need but some jobs, people are not competent in for 4 to 6 months. I don't think it is fair on an employer to put months into training someone if they are going to walk out the door a few weeks later.
I personally could not sit in an office knowing I was not up front with my employers and fellow workers.
Doesn't sound like you are overthinking it - you are just looking at it from all angles.

[Erin_25]

Just on the maternity leaver part, I don't think they have to hold your job for you if you have been there less than 12months....but most decent places will if you are good at what you do. But I think you still get paid something.

I've been in a job where someone took a new job at 10wks & didn't tell anyone til a month or so later & got paid leave and one of my closest friends took a job change just after getting married & got pg first go a month into working and got her 12wks paid leave also and the position was held for six months.

[EsJay]

ok this is purely from an employers perspective (as i am an employer)
I would be extremely disappointed if a potential employee knew they were pregnant and didnt tell me when they were offered the job. They are under no legal obligation to hold your job if you have been there less than 12 months, and if you are blatantly dishonest with them that may make their mind up for them.
They however cannot discriminate due to pregnancy, so if they feel you are the right person for the job and they do offer it to you you can accept and say but i have since the interview found out i am pregnant. they cannot legally take the offer off the table to my knowledge. you can contact fair work australia to confirm this, but to my knowledge taking the offer of employment back is classed as discrimination in this circumstance. If i had this happen i would still give the person the job (although it would create another headache down the track when i had to re-hire which would be annoying) and whether i held their job for them would depend on their performance till they went on mat leave, that might be a bit harsh but thats how it is when your running a business.

you could always tell them you didnt know or you could do what the girls above have said, as you dont have a legal obligation to tell them till 20 weeks or beyond (i think its 4 months prior to the day you intend to go on mat leave) i guess really its solely based on what you feel ok with, and whether you think theres a better chance of them holding your job for you and/or giving you a good reference if your honest up front as well as a good worker.

not sure if this helps you or if i have just made it harder, but thats an employers perspective.

it sounds like a great opportunity for you and i really do hope it all works out whatever you decide to do

[Ashlee]

Thanks everyone. I didn't hear back yesterday so hopefully I get a call back today. I have not decided what to do, I'm very morally confused. I think I'm leaning towards accepting the offer if I am lucky enough to getting one, and telling them pretty quickly after that. I just don't know if I'm going to put myself in a difficult position if they do get rid of me. I honestly don't get that impression of the company but you just never know.