New Job - Pregnant

warrenaldo

Hello,

I am in a steady job - however, a job has come up with more future prospects. I am considering going for it. The job is in my local credit Union.

The problem is - I am 2 months pregnant.

Do I need to tell the prospective employer?
Is it unfair on the employer to take up the job in these circumstances.

Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks in advance

smcgiff

warrenaldo wrote: »

The problem is - I am 2 months pregnant.

No need to tell them - your employment rights completely protect you.

Congrats!

Slydice

a quick read over this looks like it's legal:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/maternity_leave

hellova shock for the new boss I'd say though

Berty

Slydice wrote: »

a quick read over this looks like it's legal:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/maternity_leave

hellova shock for the new boss I'd say though

Yes and they have to buy you a new chair as well.

Morlar

If ever you wonder why some employers might be wary of hiring women, this thread explains all.

Mrs OBumble

OP, as I'm sure you've figured out there are two sides to every story. In this case, what's legal, and what's the right thing to do.

By all means apply: it lets them know that you're interested.

But unless you're intending to take a very short maternity leave (ie 1 month or less), then IMHO you need to tell them during the interview (if you get one). Technically they cannot use it as a factor in the decision. But in practice they will just find some other reason not to hire you - unless they want you long term, and are prepared to live with some short-term inconvenience (and they might be).

IMHO, being honest now will stand you in better stead in your long term career. Being underhand now could be counted against you for a long time in the future.

Welease

Personally i think JustMary is spot on...

What's legal and whats the right thing to do may not always be the same. Legally you would be safe, but if you did that to a company I was running, you would be bottom of my list for future opportunities for a LONG time..

(If you are not planning a long maternity, it probably won't make much difference).

Shelflife

I think just mary hit the nail on the head there, if i took on a full time employee, trained them up and then found that they were pregnant and off for 8 - 12 weeks i would be raging.

the whole point of taking on extra staff is to have extra staff.

Btw while they cannot let you go because you are pregnant , until you are there 12mths they can let you go for a multitude of other reasons and be well within their rights.

Tabnabs

Shelflife wrote: »

I think just mary hit the nail on the head there, if i took on a full time employee, trained them up and then found that they were pregnant and off for 8 - 12 weeks i would be raging.

8-12 weeks nothing, it's up to 11 months!

Mr. Presentable

warrenaldo wrote: »

Hello,

I am in a steady job - however, a job has come up with more future prospects. I am considering going for it. The job is in my local credit Union.

The problem is - I am 2 months pregnant.

Do I need to tell the prospective employer?
Is it unfair on the employer to take up the job in these circumstances.

Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks in advance

You may not get the job?

I think this is very unfair on an employer. If you were to get the job and not tell them Board you would be abusing the spirit of the law - it is there to prevent employers using maternity leave as an excuse to release existing employees.

Deoir

If this were me I wouldn't even be telling my mother at 8 weeks and definitely not my employer (or prospective employer)

A lot of women I know didn't even find out that they were pregnant til past 13-15 weeks and your employer has no right to ask you how long you have known.

pumpkinsoup

JustMary wrote: »

OP, as I'm sure you've figured out there are two sides to every story. In this case, what's legal, and what's the right thing to do.

By all means apply: it lets them know that you're interested.

But unless you're intending to take a very short maternity leave (ie 1 month or less), then IMHO you need to tell them during the interview (if you get one). Technically they cannot use it as a factor in the decision. But in practice they will just find some other reason not to hire you - unless they want you long term, and are prepared to live with some short-term inconvenience (and they might be).

IMHO, being honest now will stand you in better stead in your long term career. Being underhand now could be counted against you for a long time in the future.

This advice is misguided. OP, you should never never never volunteer information at an interview about whether or not you're pregnant, regardless of the circumstance. The view that someone is being underhanded by not telling an interviewer that they're pregnant is backward and discriminatory in my opinion.

Every employer is fully aware of the potential that a female employee (current or future) may become pregnant. OP, as you're of child-bearing age it will be obvious to your interviewer that you too may at any stage apply for leave to which you are legally entitled. There's no need to bring it to their attention.

Let the employer choose whether or not to employ you based on your ability to do the job, rather than by jeopardising your chances based on someone else's naive and misguided view of what's right and wrong.

Mr. Presentable

pumpkinsoup wrote: »

. The view that someone is being underhanded by not telling an interviewer that they're pregnant is backward and discriminatory in my opinion.

.

I can't agree. It is pertinent to the employment that you will soon be unavailable for work for an extended period. If you were going to take six months out to tour the world, and had it booked and paid for, don't you think it would be the fair and honest thing to say so?

pumpkinsoup

nipplenuts wrote: »

If you were going to take six months out to tour the world, and had it booked and paid for, don't you think it would be the fair and honest thing to say so?

The comparison is irrelevant. Maternity leave is a legal entitlement and has a sound social justification. A six month tour of the world, on the other hand, is the antithesis of this. It appears you perceive maternity leave to be an unjustifiable holiday at the employer's expense.

Mr. Presentable

pumpkinsoup wrote: »

The comparison is irrelevant. Maternity leave is a legal entitlement and has a sound social justification. A six month tour of the world, on the other hand, is the antithesis of this. It appears you perceive maternity leave to be an unjustifiable holiday at the employer's expense.

I can't tell if you just don't understand, or are being deliberately obtuse.

The point is the planned long-term absence, for whatever reason, that you neglect to inform a prospective employer of. Do you really see nothing wrong with that?

pumpkinsoup

nipplenuts wrote: »

I can't tell if you just don't understand, or are being deliberately obtuse.

Steady on there. I don't think that helps the OP.

The point is the planned long-term absence, for whatever reason, that you neglect to inform a prospective employer of. Do you really see nothing wrong with that?

By this you're saying that all reasons for long-term absense from work, "for whatever reason", are the same, - which is nonsense.

Mr. Presentable

Ah, so it's the former, huh? Adios, so.

Mrs OBumble

pumpkinsoup wrote: »

This advice is misguided. OP, you should never never never volunteer information at an interview about whether or not you're pregnant, regardless of the circumstance. The view that someone is being underhanded by not telling an interviewer that they're pregnant is backward and discriminatory in my opinion.

This view is legally correct.

However the law does contribute to a reluctance to hire women of child-bearing ago (which includes me, BTW).

My argument is purely pragmatic rather than legal: Ireland is a very small village. An employer and colleagues will hold a lot of influence over the future of anyone they hire. And they may be very p*ssed off if they spent three months training someone, only to have that person disappear for months and leave them to train yet another person. OTOH, they may not regard it as a problem - there are some jobs where turnover and extended leave is expected. Being honest is, IMHO, the approach that will give you best LONG TERM career outcomes.

Shelflife

By this you're saying that all reasons for long-term absense from work, "for whatever reason", are the same, - which is nonsense.[/QUOTE]

Well from the employers point of view an absense is an absense regardless of the cause. so from their point of view they are the same. the net effect will be that the employee is not at work.

getting back on track OP what is also a factor is the size of the business, if they employ 100 then 1 person out wont be a huge difference, if they employ 5 then its a huge blow to them.

Bottom line is legally you dont have to tell the employer that youre pregnant but i think that they would hold it against you at a later stage (legally they cant, but lifes not like that).

i personally would tell them and be up front about it, it may well go against you but at least it wont come back and bite you in the ass at a later stage.

eth0_

Absolutely amoral to not disclose this to the employer at interview.

jam_mac_jam

This is a really ****y thing to do regardless of if it is legal or not. You just make it harder for other women trying to get jobs, why would you do that? Its just really selfish.

InReality

I don't agree with the general advice in this thread. OP you should look out for your own best interests and not worry about the companies. There is nobody in the company concerning themselves with whats morally right to do to you, or worrying about your best interests.

Don't tell them, get the job, and let them sort out cover when your gone. No point wondering what future impact it can have , it will probably be forgotten about pretty quickly.

PCPhoto

InReality wrote: »

I don't agree with the general advice in this thread. OP you should look out for your own best interests and not worry about the companies. There is nobody in the company concerning themselves with whats morally right to do to you, or worrying about your best interests.

Don't tell them, get the job, and let them sort out cover when your gone. No point wondering what future impact it can have , it will probably be forgotten about pretty quickly.

have you ever been "done" by an employee .... possibly a wrong word to use but seems to capture whats in my mind.... basically someone starts work.... then discloses they will be taking time off in the near future.

an employer generally is disappointed to loose an employee, and its more of a blow if that empoyee is only recently joined the company.....Some employers will hold a grudge and keep a sharp eye on employees performances post birth !!

oh and OP... congrats on impending baby !! ...my advice... is mention it in the interview if/when asked if you have any questions etc.... its worth throwing out - if they are not going to hire you due to the fact you are pregnant then it could be better for you.