getting hired at 33 weeks pregnant

hbelle331 · August 2014

I have a 2nd interview today for a job I've really been wanting, should I tell them i'm pregnant? At this point it's hard to 'hide' but I dont think they noticed at the first interview.I'd rather start off being honest and not have them feel like I'm pulling a fast one on them. What to dooo?

vrj0522 · August 2014

I think you should only bring it up when you talk about schedules, initial projects, etc. Maybe you can ask what would be expected of you in the first 6 months and then bring it up if you feel appropriate. I wouldn't just tell them that you are pregnant just to make them aware simply because I'm sure they can probably tell. If the job is one that someone else can cover easily... retail, call center, nursing, etc, then I probably wouldn't be too concerned but if it's more of a job with specific projects that wouldn't easily be covered by someone else, then yes, I think you definitely need to discuss it with your potential employer.

ss265 · August 2014

We get this question a lot on the Working Moms board. I would personally not disclose until you have an offer in hand. Legally they can't ask you about it so they could have noticed but they can't ask.

I would definitely disclose prior to accepting the position and negotiate either time off at the offer stage or a later start date to accommodate maternity leave. If you accept the position before disclosing you put yourself at risk because you need to be employed for one year before you qualify for FMLA protection.

trisharenee0316 · August 2014

Agreed totally with @ss265. I interviewed with a few places earlier on in my pregnancy (roughly 8-10 weeks along) and received a job offer. Once the letter was in hand and I had a chance to read about their maternity benefits, I spoke to the hiring partner and HR both about possibly negotiating the leave time. Very glad I did because I really wasn't going to be able to take leave and that led to me turning down the job. Even the negotiation process can tell you a lot about the company, as it did in my case, and help you figure out if the employer will be the type of fit you want as a new mom.

MrMrsandBaby · August 2014

ss265 said:

We get this question a lot on the Working Moms board. I would personally not disclose until you have an offer in hand. Legally they can't ask you about it so they could have noticed but they can't ask.

I would definitely disclose prior to accepting the position and negotiate either time off at the offer stage or a later start date to accommodate maternity leave. If you accept the position before disclosing you put yourself at risk because you need to be employed for one year before you qualify for FMLA protection.

This confuses me? Maybe I'm not reading it right but accepting an offer has no impact on FMLA. Or are you referencing that the new job wont' have FMLA coverage and possibly her current one does? Maybe I'm reading too much into it?

Either way, if you think the job will be a good fit and something that is a positive move, go for the interview. You don't have to mention the pregnancy and I would even advise against it until, like the others said, you have an offer and are in the negotiation process.

MsMacual · August 2014

I think it depends- I've not brought it up and interviewed very obivously pregnant. I've also brought it up after the interview to the HR person and received a very interesting (and illegal response) from the hiring manager.

I always said that I wouldn't disclose until I had an offer in hand, which is a good rule of thumb, but there also is reality and I think that there is a difference between being a few weeks or months pregnant and due in 6ish weeks. I have recently started bringing it up in my screening interview with HR as I feel that they need to know that I'm expecting and am not expecting a significant time off (I just had this discussion yesterday with an HR person and we discussed 2 weeks off and 4 weeks with a somewhat flexible schedule).

It definitely is a personal decision, but having been on several interviews recently, I know that it is the elephant in the room and likely has led more than one hiring manager to find a reason not to hire me. There still are a bunch of variables, but I think that disclosing will lessen any doubts that the manager has, shows that you are very honest, and shows that you are genuine in your interest in the position and organization.

MrMrsandBaby · August 2014

Oh, and something to consider...if you are 33 weeks now and have a second interview today odds are you may not see an offer until next week (depending on how fast they move and how many other candidates they have, etc). Then with a 2 week notice to a current employer that puts you at 36 weeks. So you might get 4 weeks in at the new job before you are out. Consider how long you want to be off for leave and know this information before you get an offer. If you cannot live without 12 weeks off then you need to let the employer know that during negotiations. If you would like 12 but will be ok with 8 it gives you some room to negotiate.

Does that make sense?

ss265 · August 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:

ss265 said:

We get this question a lot on the Working Moms board. I would personally not disclose until you have an offer in hand. Legally they can't ask you about it so they could have noticed but they can't ask.

I would definitely disclose prior to accepting the position and negotiate either time off at the offer stage or a later start date to accommodate maternity leave. If you accept the position before disclosing you put yourself at risk because you need to be employed for one year before you qualify for FMLA protection.
This confuses me? Maybe I'm not reading it right but accepting an offer has no impact on FMLA. Or are you referencing that the new job wont' have FMLA coverage and possibly her current one does? Maybe I'm reading too much into it?

Either way, if you think the job will be a good fit and something that is a positive move, go for the interview. You don't have to mention the pregnancy and I would even advise against it until, like the others said, you have an offer and are in the negotiation process.

@MrandMrsBaby, what I meant that she is not legally protected because she would have been with the company less than a year before she has to go out on maternity leave (assuming that she starts before having the baby). Hence the need to negotiate leave and preferably get something in writing before she starts.

BreandMikewedding · August 2014

I would wait until you have an offer. I had wanted to get a part time job and applied at a company that I worked at for 10 years and I told them I was pregnant during the "interview" and they didn't hire me because of it. I wouldn't even need training and other people could fill in while I was gone but they still didn't hire me.

hbelle331 · August 2014

Thank you everyone,I did get offered the position and am meeting with human resources on Monday and plan to tell them then and hope things can still work out! Teaching position,paid summers and school vacations..how perfect!

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