I was hired (haven't started yet) but am planning to get pregnant ASAP. I haven't decided yet what I will do once I do get pregnant. Should I discuss this with the employer out of respect for them or not? I would feel bad if it happened a month from start date. Any experience/advice on your part?
2006-09-12 11:19:57 · 108 answers · asked by Pixie 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
depending on the company, and it's size, this is a standard benefit for many employers. they may not call it by "maternity leave, but it could be included in what they offer. check them out on the web if you can or their policy and procedure documents to find out what benefits they offer.
2006-09-12 11:27:02 · answer #1 · answered by justrying2makit 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a good thing that you want to be open and up front with your employer, but be careful with what you say and how soon you get pregnant. If you just got hired your insurance won't kick in for at least 90 days. Corporate America does not view maternity the way it used to, now it is viewed as a drain to the employer. So if you tell your boss that you are planning on getting pregnant ASAP, they may think twice about having hired you. Also, some companies have this information in their employee orientation material. Flip the situation, if you were the employer and someone came to you and said they wanted to know about the pregnancy policy of the company, this is what the employer hears, "I have a person who wants to get pregnant after i hired her so she can use benefits to cover her pregnancy and leave me without an employee for x amount of time. The work i hired her for would not get done while she is out." Personally, I would say unless you were a teacher, I would wait a few months to get pregnant.
2006-09-15 05:16:59 · answer #2 · answered by PDK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just freaking great! Sounds parasitic to me. It's an excellent ethical question. The employer hired you because they need someone to do the job you were hired to do. I'm sure they don't expect you to get pregnant and need maternity leave within the first year of employment. You're a woman so there's not much they can do about it. The right thing to do is tell your employer that you plan on needing maternity leave within the first year of employment, then the burden is on them. That creates the possibility that they will unhire you or let you go within the probation period where no cause is necessary. Most people will advise you to take advantage of the employer and just keep quiet until you're pregnant and past your probation period. Why are you trying to get a job and get pregnant at the same time? For the health benefits? Well, good luck with the job and the pregnancy. At least you're asking the question, but I'm sure you'll take the self-preservation road and I can't say that I wouldn't do the same (well, you know what I mean).
2006-09-14 14:47:26 · answer #3 · answered by OU812 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well your not gonna have the baby a month from start date. It depends on where you work. Is your position easily covered or will they have to hire a temp to cover while you are on leave? These are things you should know. You can go to your employer and say you plan to have a family one day and would like to know what the policies are on maternity leave. How long do you get? How long you are allowed to be gone before you can be terminated. If you will get pay or can use any saved vacation time. You don't need to tell them that you're trying right now to have a baby, but that you would like to in the future. 9 months is in the future so you're not lying. Bottom line, they need to know they may need to replace you in a year. It's not something to stress over though. On less you are pregnant now it will be a year or more before you have a baby. Good luck with the new job!
2006-09-15 05:07:27 · answer #4 · answered by Jnine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would advise you to wait at least 6 months before getting pregnant, most companies have some type of policy that has limitations. You can research on line but I would NOT under any circumstance discuss this with your employer if you want to keep your job. Depending on what state you live in...you are an at will employee if you have less than a year of service meaning they can fire you for anything..from your hair color to your personality. They don't have to give you a reason even. The employer already has an investment in you...the hiring process can be costly depending the process. If you REALLY want or need a job I would wait on the pregnancy and exposing the information that you would like to get pregnant asap. You are setting yourself up. Sorry but this is what real life is for women who are in the workforce.
2006-09-15 02:37:54 · answer #5 · answered by sassilass06 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do yourself a favor and do not bring it up. While you're filling out paper work with the HR person, they should give you a packet of info with all your benefits and policies clearly stated. That should answer all your questions. Make sure you do not mention a pregnancy until you are out of whatever probationary period they set. Pregnant or not, most companies can let you go within the first 3 months for any reason they choose. If you become pregnant and they know, they will make up a reason to let you go. Having a pregnant employee is very expensive and most do not want to cover that cost. If they ask if you have children or are planning on having a family just jay "I really haven't thought about it." Good luck in your new job!
2006-09-15 02:23:51 · answer #6 · answered by Crazymom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. What employer wants to hire someone only to have them go on maternity leave in less than a year? They would probably tell you, but might find another reason why you are not right for the job or say they are downsizing. Or if it is in an 'at will' state just tell you bye.
I would ask for literature regarding all company policies and procedures. Also information on any benefit choices. When you ask like that, they think you are just trying to become familiar with every aspect of the position.
2006-09-15 00:27:21 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if you feel you are good for the workplace, why give the impression that you don't by bringing that up? Once women are married, it's natural to expect them to get pregnant. Don't feel bad if it happens a month from the start date, feel good. You haven't decided what you will do once you get pregnant, so why have them take guesses about it? And maybe you won't get pregnant. You should make the call about how it will affect whether you take the job or not. You know better than they do. Also, you might look over materials they give you to see if any mention maternity leave. Btw, men fight for similar leave too, we want to be permitted to see our newborns often too.
2006-09-15 00:26:22 · answer #8 · answered by Robert B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think if that's your plan you need to be honest and direct with your future employer about that, which may necessitate you not getting the job.
There is expense in training you and then you announce your pregnant and you don't know what you're going to do, whether you'll stay home permanently or possibly come back after your maternity leave.
Frankly imho you're being totally irresponsible if you take this job and it speaks to your character. I have a news flash for you, it's people like you give other women a bad rap. You're cheating the employer who could hire someone who really does want and need the job while you obsess about you and your impending (?)baby. Grow up and get your priorities straight.
2006-09-15 03:34:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In all honesty, don't mention it until you've started work. I'd recommend against getting pregnant ASAP.
Employers are looking for people who are reliable and will come into work on a regular basis. After you've been with the company a few months, then work on getting pregnant. By then people will have gotten to know you and like you will be happy you're pregnant. Do it too soon, and people will think you're the lazy chick who just got hired for the insurance.
Good luck.
2006-09-15 00:50:23 · answer #10 · answered by dgrhm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My advice would be to not mention it, because you don't know how long it will take you to get pregnant, and even if you conceived on day one, most likely you wouldn't tell an employer until the end of your first trimester. So since most jobs have a 90 day probationary period, at the end of your 1st trimester when you tell them, you'll already be in the groove of the office, and hopefully had made yourself so valuable that they couldn't dream of losing you! I admire your intentions, they are honorable, but jobs are hard enough to come by these days and to throw a pregnancy that I'm sure will happen into the equation, when it's just a question mark at this point? It's not worth it, if they let you start you'll be thought of differently from the get go, and most likely as much as they can't discriminate against you, they will.
2006-09-14 19:53:05 · answer #11 · answered by Sidoney 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋