Job offer and Pregnant

radiant05 · July 2010

This is 'what if' question for me, but I was curious if any of you had encountered this experience.

If you were offered a job and just got a BFP would you tell the employer when excepting the offer?

Pros for telling: make sure you have insurance, letting the company know so it doesn't look suspicous

Cons for telling: potential mc

Would you start a new job 6wks pregnant? I'm just trying to decide if this potential career move is a good idea...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.

amr · July 2010

This actually happened to me. I started interview process at 4 months and started at 5 months pregnant. I had a hard time deciding what to do. I talked to a few friends in HR and they told me not to disclose my condition. They felt it would put the Company in a bad situation if they did not hire me. I knew going into the job I did not qualify for FMLA or STD. My maternity leave was unpaid. It worked out for us and the Company did not have any extra costs except my co-workers had to pick up my duties for 3 months.

Good luck!

MrsJWeaver · July 2010

Most companies prefer that you not share personal info. If you don't get the job you "could" come back and say that you didn't get hired because you are pregnant. You can disclose that after you are hired and then only if you are at risk for safety issues. Otherwise you can wait until you start to show and or feel comfortable enough to let them know.

duchess0727 · July 2010

If I were showing, I would mention it but if it were before the time I would tell my friends and family, I would not mention it to a new employer. The only thing is I would be prepared that I would not necessarily qualify for FMLA.

radiant05 · July 2010

Thank you for your thoughts. These are helpful things for me to consider.

sjcoregon6 · July 2010

I think I would wait till they offer you the job and then tell them before you accept. If you dont tell them b4 you start you will look like you are trying to hide it from them. But IMO wait till they offer you the job it would be awful tough for them to withdraw the offer after you tell them w/o causing trouble.

aboulet · July 2010

I definitely would not tell the employer until after I started and felt comfortable. If you need to work and have an offer, then take it. If you?re just looking for a change then I would say wait TTC until you have been with the company at least 4 months. The important thing was ML for me.

What happened to me was:

I started working for BOA on March 13th of 2006. I was pg with DS in June 2006 and EDD was March 7th! I was right there! FF... I ended up being induced at 39w1d (March 1st, 2007) and missed out on a paid ML for 8 weeks, plus I could have taken up to 26 weeks under FMLA. Since I was "13" days shy of being with the co a year all I got were 6 weeks unpaid and no option for a personal leave... Needless to say I ended up being a SAHM for 3 years while finishing my BBA. But- if I had to do it over again I would have waited 1 more month to TTC. (But, if you?re ready for a baby and you want nothing else but to be pg, one more month can feel like forever...It did to me!)

Good luck hope everything goes well for you!

aboulet · July 2010

I definitely would not tell the employer until after I started and felt comfortable. If you need to work and have an offer, then take it. If you?re just looking for a change then I would say wait TTC until you have been with the company at least 4 months. The important thing was ML for me.

What happened to me was:

I started working for BOA on March 13th of 2006. I was pg with DS in June 2006 and EDD was March 7th! I was right there! FF... I ended up being induced at 39w1d (March 1st, 2007) and missed out on a paid ML for 8 weeks, plus I could have taken up to 26 weeks under FMLA. Since I was "13" days shy of being with the co a year all I got were 6 weeks unpaid and no option for a personal leave... Needless to say I ended up being a SAHM for 3 years while finishing my BBA. But- if I had to do it over again I would have waited 1 more month to TTC. (But, if you?re ready for a baby and you want nothing else but to be pg, one more month can feel like forever...It did to me!)

Good luck hope everything goes well for you!

Sam78 · July 2010

I got hired in my current position without being interviewed. I was 6 months pregnant at the time. I started in the new position after coming back from ML. I only said something to my new employer because I had to push back my start date due to being out on ML.

I wouldn't say anything to a new employer about any other medical condition, so why would I say anything about a pregnancy until it impacted my job?

mom2anangel · July 2010

I was 15 weeks pg when I had an interview at my current job...I was wearing a maternity dress (it was my 3rd pregnancy so I was showing early) but I didn't say anything until after I was offered the job. I figured it didn't matter unless they offered it to me. They offered me the job during the interview so I told them I was expecting. For one, I wanted to be honest and for two, I wanted to know what they would give me as far as maternity leave. I didn't need insurance since I'm on my husbands but I didn't qualify for FMLA. To make a long story short, I went from a full time corprorate job with STD and FMLA and gave that all up to work 30 hours a week at a wonderful non-profit school when I was about 19 weeks pregnant. I never in a million years thought I would change jobs while pg...but the opportunity was too good to pass up (I also hadn't been looking at the time they called me but had previously turned down a job with them). I have been there just over 2 weeks and it was the best decision for me and my family. They did agree (in writing) to give me 12 weeks off, but it is unpaid, when I have the baby. It is possible that I can do some work from home and in a few months I will make that decision (after 6 weeks off with no work I could see myself doing some of my work from home via computer but we'll see).

IMO, I would not say anything until you are offered a job...but even then, unless I was close to the second trimester I wouldn't say anything at all. GL to you!

kimmee1997 · July 2010

I just went through this today. I had an interview and of course I told them I was pregnant cause I'm 26 weeks pregnant. I told them because I'm about to start my 3rd trimester and since it's a nursing job I'm not entirely sure how it's all gonna fall out. I HOPE to work until my due date but i don't know how that will go. As for you since you are so early, then I'd keep quiet because you have quite a bit of time to work until you will need off. Good luck with your decision!

Betts12 · July 2010

While I don't have anything to add since we're TTC also (7 months now), thank you for asking this question. I am in the process of interviewing for a new job, and DH and I had a conversation last night about whether to put TTC on hold for a couple months to qualify for FMLA if I did get the job.

Good luck with your decision.

radiant05 · July 2010

Update....

I got my BFP this morning and have my 1st round interview today. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments. We'll see how this plays out.

sturgeje · July 2010

yes, i would take it! you have plenty of time to show them your worth before you go on leave. definitely be honest and let them know you're expecting. GL!

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