Obligated to tell future employers I'm preg?

Question

Iam 15 weeks along and I am going to find a job monday. Im not showing much and unless you knew, you probably couldnt even tell right now that Im pregnant. Anyway I had a lady at an employment office tell me that I shouldnt bring it up during a job interview, that it is none of there buisiness. But Im a very honest person and I think not telling a future employer of my pregnancy is being dishonest. Whats your opinion?

also dont you think it could be a safety issue if you did not tell them and they expected you to perform skills like heavy lifting ect.?

Answer 1

Of course, it's dishonest.
Plain and simple.
Also, why are you getting a job when you know you're pregnant and will have a baby?

Answer 2

you are not required by law to tell them. And even if you do they are not allowed to deny you a position solely on the basis of pregnancy because of the American's with Disabilities act. Do not lie however, because that could be grounds for firing later on. But I've never been in an interview where someone asked if I was pregnant, it just doesn't come up. Don't tell lies about your intentions with this job either, like don't say you plan on staying with this job whenever when you know you'll be quitting in 6 months. It is none of their business and it can make getting a job more difficult. On the other hand, if you get the job and need to call off sick or leave for doctor's appointments, you will not get much sympathy from them. There are certain situations where you need to tell them, if you work in a healthcare field or a somewhere where you may be exposed to toxic chemicals (industrial, mechanics, dry cleaning, or housekeeping for example) you need to inform them of your pregnancy for the safety of your baby. Ultimately it is a personal decision but remember that often an employer who won't hire a pregnant woman also won't be supportive of a pregnant employee who needs frequent bathroom breaks, or a new mom who needs time to pump at work, has a C-section and needs longer maternity leave, has to stay home with a sick kid, etc.
If you're desperate and you need a job now, there's no need to tell them. If you are looking for a new career though, be honest.

Answer 3

Don't tell them until you know whether or not you have the job. I am sometimes around when my employer gives interviews. you wouldn't believe some of the things she says about not wanting to hire someone. It's even worse because they can't prove that's why she doesn't want to hire them. For example a lady who came in on disability talked to me before hand. She then went in for her interview and I was called back and asked what i thought of her. She was nice, but you could tell that she had a disability. My boss said that she didn't think she would hire her. When I pointed out that she couldn't do that, because of the disability, she said she might give her a chance. I haven't seen her yet.
I am 13 weeks prego and told them right off, but I plan on quitting when i'm about 7mo along (it's an hour drive and I get off late at night). I don't think not telling them is dishonest, it's showing your best front. Later allowing your skills to talk for you. You can have a very hard time proving why you weren't hired, but a much easier one showing why you were asked to leave.

Answer 4

Well speaking from experience I will tell you this...I was working for a company for almost a year. I found out and told them I was pregnant before I started showing b/c I thought I was safe. Boy was I wrong. They made things so hard on me that I ended up quiting...I could not deal with all the extra stress from my employer...it was BS and against the law for them to treat me or anyone like that. My advice is to keep it quiet until you can no longer hide it. It seems bad...but really it will be in your best interest to keep it quiet. Good luck.


*well if you are taking a job with heavy lifting then you should tell them...but if it is like an office job or something along those lines then no I would hold off.

Answer 5

Well I had the same problem. Employers will most likely want to hire people w/ long term goals. Depending on the job it would be detrimental to you if you don't tell them. For instance being in a position w/ your job to lift heavy things. I was 4 months pregnant and I was hired on originally to be a dept. lead for K-mart(long time ago), but when I told them I was pregnant they moved me to cashiering, because I was physically not able to perform the job duties as required. So be honest, Try to find seasonal work, or temporary work that is fit to your situation.

Answer 6

You're not legally required to inform an employer that you are pregnant until 30 days before you plan to take maternity leave. The exception to that is if there is a bona fide reason that you would not be able to do your job or portions of your job while pregnant (ex: police officer, firefighter, required to lift 50lbs). While it would be illegal for a potential employer to discriminate against you because of pregnancy, its always a possibility, and it would be virtually impossible to prove that the pregnancy caused you not to get a job.

Answer 7

You arne't required by law to tell them.

But after you become employed, or at your "safe" mark--for many that is at the end of the first 12 weeks or 16 wks depending, you may want to share this information.

A few ppl I've met over the yrs had this happen to them, they dealt with it different ways one person told her employer right after they offered her the job, another signed a form saying she'd cut her mat leave by 1/2, and another just said she would come back to work after her mat leave.

So you don't need to bring it up. If they ask--say your job search goes for a while & you are asked about it--pleasently explain that you are due on _____ date. however you understand that while they are interested, this can not be by law used against you.

State it kindly & short & sweet--but so they know you know your rights.

Answer 8

Do not tell them. The employemnt office is correct. You are protected as a women by the Equal Employment Opportunity by your sex. If you say you are pregnant they might not hire you simply because of that, which is illegal but hard to prove. After they offer you the job you can tell them because they cannot change their minds because of that.
I went through the same thing and am honest but it really is none of their business unless they hire you.

Answer 9

I recently read an article about this very thing, the article said you do not have to bring it up in an interview, just as you wouldn't have to bring up your age, marital status, etc. but should you get offered the job you should tell them at that point. If they feel you are the best candidate for the job and they really want to hire you at that point your pregnancy shouldn't be an issue.

Answer 10

Its against the law to deny someone a job because they are pregnant unless its a job dependant on physical labor. That being said obviously a prospective employer wouldn't tell you that the reason your not being hired is because you are pregnant. You are not obligated to tell them, and I probably wouldn't until it became obvious. They certainly can't fire you for it in the future.

Answer 11

I'm 10 weeks and 2 days pregnant, I had an interview yesterday and started my job today.... it feels dishonest not telling them you're pregnant, but the employment office is right, it isn't their buisness. Good luck and hope all goes well!