How should I tell a potential new employer that I am adopting and I want to take 8 weeks to be with my child?

Question

I am in the interviewing stages and would like to be honest with the company.

Answer 1

That you may need an 8 wk leave, and what requirements must you meet to achieve that. However, unsure if I'd approach the matter til you were more certain, and are able to provide some kind of time frame.

Answer 2

Had that happen with my first child... only I was pregnant, but not showing. Same difference, though.

Anyway...........

When I was in that situation, my mom told me to NOT tell them until AFTER I was hired. I didn't feel that comfortable with it, but I did desperately need a job with insurance, so I did it. Felt AWFUL two months later when I could no longer get by without telling them I was expecting, and they were ticked off... and they looked for any reason they could find to fire me legally.

If I had to do it over again, I would have told them before I was hired. But if you do that, you need to accept that from a business standpoint, it might make less sense to hire someone you know will be on two-month leave soon after they're hired. Hopefully, it's a company that can really work with you and be encouraging, but since they'll be having to put money and time into training you, if you work there for seven weeks then have to take eight weeks off, they've not benefitted much by hiring you.

Depending on the company, though, you could get very lucky (with my second child, the company I worked for was wonderful and supportive). If it's something where they have to offer paid training, rather than pulling from pre-existing training through college or previous experience, you're more of a risk to them. Depending on the nature of the job, they may be able to work with you (some offer ways for you to keep up a part-time workload working from home.)

The FMLA guarantees pre-existing jobs to people who need to take an unpaid leave. But it doesn't guarantee that you'll get hired with that looming in the future, or that they will HAPPILY let you take your leave and come back.

Good luck with the job, sorry I wasn't more helpful, and congratulations on the baby! :-)

Answer 3

It is very important to establish at the very beginning of the job that you have priorities. it is very hard to stop working 12 hr a day or weekends or Sundays unless you tell the up front and BEFORE you are hired that you want to be off for certain things. Tell them asap that you are trying to adopt a child and that you will expect to be off 8 weeks when the adoption is final. Keep them informed as to the progress and give them 2 weeks notice when the time comes. If there are no surprises then they can't complain.

Answer 4

Better to tell them up front. There is a law that protects you also called the FMLA. It's the Family Medical Leave Act and you have a right to take up to 12 weeks off without pay to take care of a family matter such as this. I think they'll appreicate your up front honesty and will work around it if they really want you to work for them.Tell them that you are adopting and what you've been through to make it happen. Explain the importance of this to you while at the same time giving them all the qualities you will bring to their company. Good luck!

Answer 5

If you are taking the eight weeks soon, then don't bother going through the interview stages. Just wait it out.

Answer 6

I think being honest with them about this whole situation would be your best move. They'd appreciate your honesty and who knows they just might hold that position for you when you are able to start work.