How are pregnant women saposed to live if people wont hire them?

Question

Hi I'm about five months pregnant and i have a few friends that are pregnant and no one will hire any of us in for a job but yet we see few pregnant woman working and when we try they say no or that they are just not hiring but yet they really are hiring, thats why I just don't understand people these days are they just to afraid that we will get hurt even if we are only working at the cash register. I have been jobless for almost five months and no matter where I go to get a job no one will hire it seems that people now and days are jsut to picky when it comes to work I think that a job is a job even if I don't like it but thats life when you need money right. I would get a job and if I didn't like it i would find a new one then quit my old one but my question is why are people not hiring in pregnant woman evevn if they can work.

Answer 1

I know it makes me angry too! I am a bit over 5 months and i tried loking for a new job (thankfully i already had one but it's only part time and doesnt pay enough). No one will hire me! But i do understand why, If they were to hire any of us we would only be temporary staff and in say 3 and a half months they will have to start looking for some one new and they dont want to do that when they could easily hire some one who will be perminant as it stops alot of stuffing around.

It sucks i know but what can we do?

Answer 2

Fact of life (politically correct or not)...

It's not desirable to hire a pregnant woman. There are just too many question marks.

First there is the obvious that you WILL be shortly taking maternaty leave which will last AT LEAST 6 weeks and more likely 8 weeks.

First time mothers are more likely to not come back. I can't tell you the number of times I've worked with women who became first time mothers and planned to return to work, but once the baby was here, they either changed their mind and becamse stay at home moms, or came back to work and the seperation caused them enought pain that they soon quick to become a stay at home mom. Of course this is not the end result of every pregnant woman, but because there is a significant percentage that do this, it's still going to play into a hiring decision.

In a similar vain, a pregnant woman is more likely to require short term disability (i.e. put on doctor's orders for bed rest etc) as the due date approaces. No, it might not be the case for even MOST pregnant women. But again, there is a certain percentage that do.

So from an odds stand point, there are several negatives to hiring a pregnant woman.

Answer 3

I got fired for being pregnant. It was NOT fun. I was 29 weeks pregnant at the time and was too big to get another job that far along in pregnancy. The reason they don't hire pregnant women is because they know you are going to eventually go on MATERNITY LEAVE .. and then take time off to have the baby .. and then stay home with the baby for at least 6 weeks after the baby is born (8 weeks for a c-section), so they figure they'd have to hire someone else to take the position they would have given you. They'd rather hire someone more long term. My son is now 3 months old and my husband and I decided that'd it'd be best if I stay home with the baby until he is 9-12 months old.

Answer 4

Hey, I know. I got my current job out of sheer luck. It really depends on how far a long you are when you interview etc. If you're already visibly showing it surely makes the potential employer nervous. Not because they don't think you're qualified or capable, but because they don't know how long you'll be able to work. You might plan on working right up until your due date -- but that doesn't always work. For example, I was forced to leave work 2 weeks ago (by my doc) for health reasons when I was planning on working til the very end (i'm due Sept. 1st). So when you're being interviewed the potential employer is thinking about how much time will be spent training you, and that cost, then they'll be thinking how long til you'll have to go on leave and how they'll have to find someone to do your work while you're gone, and they'll also be worrying about your leave/absence. Many states do not allow you to take advantage of disability/FMLA if you've been with a company less than a year -- so in the employer's eyes there's no guarantee that you'll come back to work. They might also be worried that you just want the job for health insurance etc. Good luck to you. I know how stressful it can be. I found out I was pregnant 2 days before I moved to AZ (from NJ) and had already left my job etc so when I moved out here there were offers -- but silly me I felt I had to be honest with my potential bosses. It took me 3 months to find a job. A job that is below my normal pay scale, but still supplied benefits, a steady schedule, and are accepting of my pregnancy. Sometimes, you just have to bite the bullet and lower your pride too. I know I was at the point that I was actually considering applying at fast food joints -- I was that desperate. Hope everything goes well for you and that you have a happy&healthy pregnancy!!!

Answer 5

As a company, it is not really financially sound to spend weeks training someone who you know is going to quit in a couple months, reguardless of the reason they will be leaving. You should be able to get hired for the holiday season since every store needs the extra help.

You should try to apply to a maternity specialty store. They like to hire pregnant women. It is a free model for their clothes!

Answer 6

I agree with bored unit. An employer would rather hire someone that isn't going to need a maternity leave in a few months versus someone that is going to need to be gone for like 6 weeks. That puts them short on people for that period of time, so they figure why waste their time?

Answer 7

Well that sucks! I am sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time finding a job. I agree with the temp agency thing, try that out. You could also look outside of your area, like in another city or town close to yours.
Good luck and I hope you can find a job soon.

Answer 8

Did you try, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Sears and other similar stores.

If there is a Lord & Taylor in your city, they have a baby department, perhaps the manager will hire you for the baby department. Good Luck.

Answer 9

go to a temp agency......the employer wont be worried about you being out on maternity leave, and you'll make a few bucks before the baby comes.
Go to a few agencys, dress your most professional.
Good luck