Disclosure of pregnancy and interviewing

blaf322 · February 2016

Yesterday, I found a job that is a PERFECT fit for my skills/experience, would be a pay increase, and would get me away from the super high stress and lack of work/life balance I have with my current job.... Soooo, I submitted my resume and heard back today. The VP I'll be reporting to will be reaching out to set up an interview soon so the big question is, when do I drop the pregnancy bomb? After 1st tri? After they offer the job but before I accept? I don't think during the interview is a great idea but I'm open to feedback/rationale. As an FYI: This is a quickly growing company so they're adding the position I'd be taking vs me replacing someone.

I'm 4 weeks as of Monday, according to my REI doc (just got confirmation on Monday) so EDD is 10/17. Also, I realize I'm putting the cart before the horse here but want to have a plan. Thanks all!

PeggyOlsonFTW · February 2016

One other thing to consider with starting a new job is FMLA (if you're in the states, that is) You wouldn't be at your new job long enough to to qualify for it.

blaf322 · February 2016

My current employer doesn't provide it so no loss there

PeggyOlsonFTW · February 2016

bnsmith85 said:

My current employer doesn't provide it so no loss there

Gotcha. In that case, I wouldn't say anything to a potential employer until you absolutely had to. After first tri or when you're showing.

blaf322 · February 2016

Thanks for the advice! Side note: we've been re-watching Mad Men for the past month or two so obviously I instantly thought you were wonderful when I saw your username

westcoastfoodie · February 2016

In today's economy, we need to take advantage of the opportunities we're given! I agree with @PeggyOlsonFTW and say after the 1st tri or when you're showing.

shadykady · February 2016

With my first pregnancy, I accepted a job offer at 4 months pregnant. The day I signed a contract, I disclosed that I was expecting. Legally, there's nothing they can do but get sued for firing you at that point. My job was very supportive, and it all worked out well! Good luck!

Koalamomma3 · February 2016

I agree, I would just wait until it's completely obvious, when I was pregnant with DD1 I didn't say a word to my new employer until I was 25 weeks.

PrimRoseMama · February 2016

I wouldn't say anything until you have to.

bornmommy · February 2016

and honestly, it's no one's business anyway. (Until your thinking about finding a maternity replacement --- then it's just good manners.)

itravelsize · February 2016

this is a great question I'mm be moving in a few weeks so I'll be on the job hunt just as I enter my second trimester

von1976 · February 2016

You are not required to say anything, and they are not allowed to ask, legally. Even if you have a visible bump. You can sue them if they do. They also cannot retaliate and cut back hours, dock pay, or fire you after you've been hired once they find out. If you tell them prior to hiring, they can decline to hire you, however.

As as long as you intend to come back from maternity leave and not take excessive leave, I wouldn't mention it until after you are hired.

Keep in mind that you will not be eligible for FMLA until you've worked there for one year, so you will have to use up any vacation/sick leave to take maternity leave, or will have to take it unpaid.

blaf322 · February 2016

Thanks ladies! Decision made... I'll be waiting a bit to speak up

kateleap · February 2016

For what it's worth, I would actually consider disclosing when you have an offer, because if your new company does have FMLA, you could negotiate to get the same benefits as your peers. I'm also trying to make a similar transition (from high-stress job to one that's more balanced and fulfilling) and my plan is that if I get an offer, I'll disclose then so that a) they don't feel blindsided in the first 6 weeks when it becomes obvious--which definitely is NOT an obligation, but it is something that for me is important to starting the relationship on a positive, transparent note and 2) negotiating for those benefits, which is a biggie! They can't legally rescind the offer once you disclose pregnancy, so any feathers ruffled then are likely to be even more ruffled later, the way I see it.

blaf322 · February 2016

@kateleap - that was actually my concern, that they could rescind the offer after I told them. I wanted to consider telling them before accepting the offer because, assuming the hiring process takes this week and next, then 2 weeks' notice, I'd only have about 3 weeks before I'd need to say something. Thanks for the insight!! More to consider now

KLBell17 · February 2016

I actually just accepted a new job yesterday. Wasn't pregnant when I started interviewing, but I did tell HR after I was offered the position because I knew they could a rescind. She was super supportive. The only reason that I told her was because I had questions about health insurance and maternity leave. It really eased my mind after talking to her and made me comfortable accepting.

mamadomino · February 2016

I found out I was expecting between my first and second interview for a job I just accepted a few weeks ago. I'll start 3/1. I initially wanted to disclose once I had the offer due to my field (outpatient psychotherapy) but decided not to. I had an early loss in December, and I still don't feel "in the clear" with this one. I didn't want to disclose, and then have to untell them. I'm a pretty emotional person and I knew I would be a mess if I had to do that. My new employer has 5 children of his own, so I'm banking on him being supportive. If he opts to fire me for taking leave (which they can do, since my time will be unpaid) I guess that's his decision.

Good luck!

cantalopes24 · February 2016

I have started two different jobs while pregnant and both times I waited until after 1st tri to tell them. The first time I was actually about 5-6 months pregnant when they hired me and I ended up telling them a couple months later and my water ended up breaking a couple weeks later at 33 weeks. The second time around I found out I was pregnant the a couple days before my interview and told them at 14 weeks.

kateleap · February 2016

bnsmith85 They can't legally hold pregnancy against you at any point in the process if you'll be able to perform the duties of the job, but if you disclosed before an offer there's no real way to prove WHY they don't make an offer after that. Good luck!!

mrszoess · February 2016

I accepted a transfer/promotion on 2/3 and got my bfp 2/11. oh well. I ovulated and interviewed same day, new lottery numbers

Tiffanih18 · February 2016

Also, keep in mind that FMLA only applies to:

public agencies, including local, State, and Federal employers, and local education agencies (schools); and
private sector employers who employ 50 or more employees for at least 20 workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year – including joint employers and successors of covered employers.

So if they are a newer company and don't meet those requirements of the amount of employees they have they are not obligated to offer you FMLA. But depending on your state you will want to check your local state laws to see if they offer a supplemental (like in Oregon they have OFLA which you only have to be at the company for 6 months and work an average of 25 hours per week before being eligible).

Also, in order to qualify for FMLA you must have worked a minimum of 1250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of leave. So you have to be there a year and work that minimum before you are eligible.

Personally, my previous employer knew before I was hired that I was pregnant (I was only 5 weeks at the time). I knew I wouldn't qualify for a job protected leave by the time I was due but my boss was great and he was totally understanding during the interview (he had 4 kids himself so he got it).

JjrLmm2015 · February 2016

I am loving the Golden Girls ticker!!

JjrLmm2015 · February 2016

I was just offered a new position yesterday and i am really excited about it. I'm about 5-6 weeks right now and my start date will be March 21st. They do not know i am expecting (hell, I just found out a week 1/2 ago) and I think I'll keep it that way for a bit.

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