Getting A Job When Pregnant?
Discussion
Hi guys,
My wife and I are just about to start looking for work but we just found out she is 6 weeks pregnant. Obviously this will have a major impact on her chances of getting a job. She doesn't want to not tell an employer because she thinks it is a low act to get a job then tell them in a few months "guess what!" and I can see her point.
I am sure we aren't the only people to have ever been in this position before and she really needs to work as we are going to need to qualify for a mortgage asap.
Any suggestions or stories you want to share?
My wife and I are just about to start looking for work but we just found out she is 6 weeks pregnant. Obviously this will have a major impact on her chances of getting a job. She doesn't want to not tell an employer because she thinks it is a low act to get a job then tell them in a few months "guess what!" and I can see her point.
I am sure we aren't the only people to have ever been in this position before and she really needs to work as we are going to need to qualify for a mortgage asap.
Any suggestions or stories you want to share?
GarryA said:
In my opinion you're taking the piss.
Why?Employer won't need to pay her maternity pay when she goes on maternity leave.
If it's a job she'd like to keep after the maternity leave, and the employer thinks she's worth employing then it's all good.
See here for the rules on statuatory maternity pay, she won't qualify for that or, unless they're the most generous employer ever, maternity pay from new employer.
Edited by MrLou on Friday 1st April 18:43
GarryA said:
In my opinion you're taking the piss.
OUCH! She isn't taking the piss mate. She needs to work doing something and I said she will tell the employer that she is pregnant. I am sure others on here have had the same problem so I am interested to here what they have done. Temping is an option but I think temping jobs don't count towards your joint income for getting a mortgage 
Big Tav said:
GarryA said:
In my opinion you're taking the piss.
OUCH! She isn't taking the piss mate. She needs to work doing something and I said she will tell the employer that she is pregnant. I am sure others on here have had the same problem so I am interested to here what they have done. Temping is an option but I think temping jobs don't count towards your joint income for getting a mortgage But if you're going to use the job to substantiate your joint income, what will you do when her income drops to 0?
Job hunting while pregnant is taking the piss, if she gets the job then in 6-8 months goes off on maternity for 6-12 months the employer can't sack your wife while she's off on Maternity so the poor employer gets a permanent role tied up for the best part of 2 years while having to employ a temp to do the job.
Big Tav said:
Yes. I have a fair bit of money up my sleeve and can pay more than 50% deposit on the house I want and still have some over but we still need job to qualify for the loans.
Good on ya.You might find that some lenders wont accept proof of income until you've been there a certain time, often 3 months.
We had this problem when my wife moved from one part of the NHS trust she worked for to another. Despite the fact that she'd effectively had the same employer for 5 years they counted it as a new job. You'll probably find that some lenders won't want to quote, but there are plenty that will.
In any case I'd not worry about telling prospective employer about pregnancy, at 6 weeks many women don't even know so she can plausibly deny it later.
And, of course, good luck with it (the pregnancy not the mortgage application!)
Engineer1 said:
Job hunting while pregnant is taking the piss, if she gets the job then in 6-8 months goes off on maternity for 6-12 months the employer can't sack your wife while she's off on Maternity so the poor employer gets a permanent role tied up for the best part of 2 years while having to employ a temp to do the job.
Come on guys, back off? How can she be taking the piss if she tells them? Am I missing something? Is it a discrimination thing? Shame if it is!My wife isn't taking the piss. She is dead against not telling them as she knows what that means. We used to be employers too and know what a pain that is. She still wants to work though in some way in the time being. She won't qualify for maternity anyway.
I mainly posted to see if others have been in the same situation and might have some job ideas that I might not have thought of.
I am probably going to borrow around £120-150ish I think.
I mainly posted to see if others have been in the same situation and might have some job ideas that I might not have thought of.
I am probably going to borrow around £120-150ish I think.
Technically, unless asked, and technically, they shouldn't ask, your state of health is private unless the role, in it's Job Specification, requires certain fitness levels. If you're wife meets the essential requirements of the role then her 'early' (you know what I mean; sorry, but under the circumstances, needs to be covered), pregnancy is irrelevant and cannot by law influence a decision on whether to employ her or not. This is where we are in a developed society.
Her choosing to declare any health issues, either at time of application or at selection, is entirely up to her and her moral stance.
Good luck!
Her choosing to declare any health issues, either at time of application or at selection, is entirely up to her and her moral stance.
Good luck!
rog007 said:
Technically, unless asked, and technically, they shouldn't ask, your state of health is private unless the role, in it's Job Specification, requires certain fitness levels. If you're wife meets the essential requirements of the role then her 'early' (you know what I mean; sorry, but under the circumstances, needs to be covered), pregnancy is irrelevant and cannot by law influence a decision on whether to employ her or not. This is where we are in a developed society.
Her choosing to declare any health issues, either at time of application or at selection, is entirely up to her and her moral stance.
Good luck!
Exactly, however as an employer whether within the law or not if I found out after employing that she was pregnant whilst applying and hadn't been open there would always be a bit of a bad taste....Her choosing to declare any health issues, either at time of application or at selection, is entirely up to her and her moral stance.
Good luck!
If she was open and was honest from day one and I felt she was ideal for the role (and it didn't compromise her ability) I would consider her honesty and frankness a positive attribute and take it into consideration.
GarryA said:
In my opinion you're taking the piss.
How are they taking the piss? The OP has clearly stated that his wife doesn't want to mislead a potential employer and asked for constructive advice on looking for employment under their current circumstances.Personally, I'd either try the temping route and then look for something permanent once the baby is born assuming that's financial viable with childcare costs. Or be upfront with employers about the pregnancy and do everything she can to persuade them that she wants a career with them in the future. I imagine it's unlikely she'd get maternity pay if she got a permanent job now but I admit I don't know the ins and outs of this.
Good luck.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff