New Job and 9 Weeks Pregnant

AOliveira11 · November 2015

Hi Everyone!

I was just hired for a new job that is a great fit and am very excited to start. The new job starts December 14, but as of today I am about 9 weeks pregnant. I will be appx 13 weeks when I start the job and I called my local FMLA office who said that i have no protection by the FMLA act because i need to be employed for at least a year before this could protect me and I can be fired for it. I'm trying to determine if I should tell them I am pregnant before starting the job to avoid any issues, or what the best course of action should be. Unfortunately I need to work and the position is at a call center where I am sitting for the majority of my day and will not be put at risk for having the baby.

Any suggestions on what to do?

Thanks ladies!!

TennisCourt · November 2015

I think you have to go with your gut. Think about the benefits that would be available to you, would you get maternity leave or would you not have been there long enough? What is your role? You mentioned a call center, but if there are many others with the same position then to me it doesn't seem as big of a deal as a position where you are the only person in that role. If you can be fired for it, I wouldn't say anything because you are going to have the same issue at another job.

fourtsixand2 · November 2015

In my personal opinion, I think honesty is the best policy. I'd sit down with you HR director and explain that you are very excited about the position, but you just discovered you are expecting. Reiterate that you plan on coming back to work after the birth of the baby, but that you wanted to be completely up front with them prior to accepting the position.

I've worked HR before, and I can tell you I'd much rather hear the up front truth than someone sneak it in after the fact.

And, if they decide they don't want to keep you after telling them that news, that's not the kind of job you'd want in the first place. Just my two cents.

AOliveira11 · November 2015

Do you think it would be best to wait until the official 3 month end mark to make sure there are no complications? I am praying that there isn't, but in the event there is, i dont want to give up the position either.

TennisCourt · November 2015

@aoliveira11 I didn't want to bring up complications but that is kind of why part of me says wait, but @fourtsixand2 makes some good points too.

sarahufl · November 2015

Yeah, I am ultra cautious in general- I am 19 weeks and STILL haven't told my employer..... Fingers crossed everything goes well, but I would wait a few more weeks to tell them.

Then just be honest.

DrillSergeantCat · November 2015

Technically, they can't fire you for being pregnant. What they can do is consider your maternity leave as a voluntary quit. I would tell them so it doesn't seem like you're a dishonest employee.

delujm0 · November 2015

DrillSergeantCat said:
Technically, they can't fire you for being pregnant. What they can do is consider your maternity leave as a voluntary quit. I would tell them so it doesn't seem like you're a dishonest employee.

This. If you come clean before starting though, you may be able to negotiate a maternity leave outside of FMLA. If they really want you to work there, they will likely try to work something out. It may be unpaid, but so is FMLA leave.

fourtsixand2 · November 2015

AOliveira11 said:

Do you think it would be best to wait until the official 3 month end mark to make sure there are no complications? I am praying that there isn't, but in the event there is, i dont want to give up the position either.

I don't think there would be anything wrong with that. If you choose to wait until the 3 month mark, you could still pass it off at just finding out you're pregnant. At my first sonogram I discovered I was 4 whole weeks further along than I thought I was....

cjt121413 · November 2015

I wouldn't tell them until you're ready (2nd tri). Think of it this way: if they knew they would be doing lay offs in 6 months, would they tell you? No, of course not. It's business, and they are looking out for their bottom line. So should you. Good luck!

AOliveira11 · November 2015

cjt121413, you are absolutely right. I do need to watch out for myself and if they let me go for a different reason other than being pregnant, I will likely consult an attorney about this as I have never been terminated from a company for poor performance before. The company I am going to work for is a pretty large company in the US so hopefully they would be able to accommodate my situation.

J&Jaggies06 · November 2015

Many companies have a separate leave of absence option for employees that are not eligible for FMLA this may cover you while you are out after baby but be prepared to not be approved for a full 12 weeks. Good luck.

MamaRoni · November 2015

Didn't u say you will be 13 weeks when u start? That's on the upswing.of feeling better and more energy for most.

I'd still probably tell them upfront... and explain that this won't affect ypur performance. .. work ethic... and that u plan to continue working. Just be honest

itstheblackwidowbaby · November 2015

I started my second job when I was nine weeks pregnant and told them at fourteen weeks. I interviewed with them before I knew I was pregnant and ended up getting stuck in prehire hell so I didn't feel super inclined to go "hey guys, I know I haven't started yet but I'm pregnant" but I also didn't feel right hiding my pregnancy for the entire time of the 90 day probational period.

It was a good middle ground for the company I was in (I'd worked there previously in another city). They saw my work ethic and skill set without knowing I was pregnant, but I also only kept my pregnancy under wraps for around a month so they could have let me go since I was still in the probationary period. During my meeting when I told my two supervisors I mentioned that I hadn't known I was pregnant during the interview or I would have disclosed it then, but with how everything worked out I didn't want to tell either of my employers until the second trimester. As it stands they worked with me and even without FMLA, I have a position waiting for me once I'm cleared to work again.

missnc77 · November 2015

Having a baby is considered a short term disability, so while you may not be eligible for FMLA, you can look into/apply for short term disability. It won't be a full 12 weeks, but it's something. Also, check into your state maternity leave policies. Sometimes they offer additional protections for employees in a smaller business or who are less than 1 year at work. And as someone else said, they can't fire you for being pregnant or having a baby, they just don't have to give you 12 weeks leave.

DrillSergeantCat · November 2015

missnc77 said:

Having a baby is considered a short term disability, so while you may not be eligible for FMLA, you can look into/apply for short term disability. It won't be a full 12 weeks, but it's something. Also, check into your state maternity leave policies. Sometimes they offer additional protections for employees in a smaller business or who are less than 1 year at work. And as someone else said, they can't fire you for being pregnant or having a baby, they just don't have to give you 12 weeks leave.

It's too late for that now. It's considered a pre-existing condition and they won't pay or if they do, it'll be half the normal rate which is already pretty low.

delujm0 · November 2015

DrillSergeantCat said:

missnc77 said:

Having a baby is considered a short term disability, so while you may not be eligible for FMLA, you can look into/apply for short term disability. It won't be a full 12 weeks, but it's something. Also, check into your state maternity leave policies. Sometimes they offer additional protections for employees in a smaller business or who are less than 1 year at work. And as someone else said, they can't fire you for being pregnant or having a baby, they just don't have to give you 12 weeks leave.

It's too late for that now. It's considered a pre-existing condition and they won't pay or if they do, it'll be half the normal rate which is already pretty low.

This. It is possible that you might be covered if your employer automatically offers short term disability coverage to all employees (mine does), though sometimes with a plan like that, you have to be employed for a year before it will kick in.

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