getting job offers and just found out I'm pregnant...what to do?

[rreiko]

I just started receiving job offers during a job search. We only started to try a family in April and did not think I was going to get pregnant so quickly so I'm a bit taken off guard. Anyone have experience with this? I'm not showing (I'm only at 6 weeks).

Once I get the official offer letters, is that when you put the pregnancy topic on the table? Do you roll it into a benefits discussion?

I'm a bit concerned about changing jobs during pregnancy because some companies require that you be at a for 12 months before you can take ML, but there is a scarcity of people with my experience level in my profession and these are great job opportunies. Can they retract a job offer if I fully disclose my pregnancy? I could negotiate ML as part of my package, couldn't I?

Thanks so much for your input.

[Anonymous]

No - they can not retract the job offer.

I would read the benefits in detail to even see if you need to negotiate. I joined a company last year and needed to be there 30 days before STD kicked in which covered my paid maternity leave of 6 weeks. They knew I was pregnant when I interviewed - I was 6 months and clearly showing. As part of my interview I did put on the table what my desired maternity leave was to see if they were supportive.

Since you will not be covered by FMLA - you will not have been with the company for 1 year - you may need to understand in general what the maternity leave policies are.

If you are a hot commodity, and maternity leave will not be paid, I would try and get a larger signing bonus to cover the ML.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I would discuss upon offer. They can't retract an offer. They can either not bend the ml rules if they dont like the idea of you being pg or they can work with you if they feel you are worth it. Either way you dont have much to lose. I also think it would be better for your working relationship if you disclose at the offer/negotiations intsead of a month or so later.

By the way, I was job searching and trying at thesame timeso I understand some of your stress.

Good luck and congrats on both!

[Anonymous]

Not sure about health insur. coverage with your new job, but you may want to watch out for the "pre existing condition" clause. Not sure if pregnancy applies.

Double check if you are even entitled to health insurance. One place I knew of stated their employees had to pass a 90 day initiation period before they were entitled to full health coverage.

Also, there was a posting not too long ago about "when to tell my employer that I'm pregnant". You may want to do a search for more suggestions and tips.

OP - out of curiosity - are you in the biomedical field?

Congrats on the pregnancy (and the job offers).

[Anonymous]

I was in a similar situation. I was about 10-11 weeks pregnant when I found a new job unexepectedly (great opportunity, etc.) I ended up waiting for the offer, and then disclosing my situation. I agree with one of the PPs--they cannot retract the offer, but telling them after they have offered allows them the leeway to demonstrate to you how much they are willing to work with you/how much you are worth to them. I also second some of the PP's comments about all the things you need to think about: how does their Short Term Disability policy and health insurance work for maternity coverage, what will the leave look like, do you have to expend all vacation and sick days first, etc. And, be sure to get everything IN WRITING--for your sake and just because this stuff is confusing so you really want to make sure you have the documents in front of you, not just relying on what the manager heard from some dude in HR Also, be sure to have a confident-sounding answer about what you will do after the baby is born, e.g. "I know this may put the company in an awkward position with me having to take leave so early on, but I am committed to my career and to coming back to work and my husband and I plan to have day care ready to make the transition easy" or something like that. Finally, remember that you can negotiate different benefits if they really want you....its all part of the hiring game!

FWIW, in my office I got lucky and they were very supportive. I came in knowing that my maternity leave would be un-paid (although that changed slightly because of a company policy change, yay!). Since I came into the job knowing I would have some leave in just 6 months, it kept me focused and I was able to plan accordingly. You have to think--women get pregnant all the time and its just as easy for a woman who had been there a while to get pregnant and have a due date right around some big project or deadline. Its not we can plan these things!

All the best of luck!

[Anonymous]

I found out I was pregnant while I was in the middle of a job search. Some things I had to consider:

* Is the job one you'll be able to do while pregnant and after your leave? I would not have accepted my job if it had had travel obligations I couldn't fulfill, or super-long, inflexible hours incompatible with daycare dropoff and pickup, not to mention frequent prenatal and daycare tour appointments. (I took a step backwards on the career ladder to have this baby.) Additionally, you should try to gauge how family-friendly your new work group is. Nearly everyone in my group has young children, and most left a higher-stress corporate environment and joined our nonprofit for family reasons.

* HPAA laws cover group health insurance; pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition IF you have had continuous health insurance with no lapse of over 63 days. So you will be covered by your new group (vs. individual) insurance plan. That said, you could end up paying out-of-pocket for health care at some point if you're uncovered when you'd need a time-limited procedure. In my case, I had to pay for a 20-week ultrasound and an amniocentesis, plus lab tests, which were very expensive.

* FMLA only applies if you've been at the job for a year or more, and only for companies of 50+ people. You will likely have to take a combination of short-term disability, vacation and/or unpaid leave.

Other than those things, my experience has been positive. My new employers reacted very well when I told them, and they've been great ever since. I'm a little scared at how I'll juggle maternity leave with work during our busy season, but hopefully everything will work out.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:* FMLA only applies if you've been at the job for a year or more, and only for companies of 50+ people. You will likely have to take a combination of short-term disability, vacation and/or unpaid leave.

Actually if you work in DC your company only has to have 20 employees.

[rreiko]

Thanks to all for your great advice...this has been extremely helpful.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me as a manager. I offered a job to a candidate and when she accepted, she told me she was 4 month pregnant (I couldn't tell during the interview). I was totally fine with it. Managers expect their young female employees to get pregnant. I was pregnant at the time and I came back from maternity leave about a month before she went out.

You shouldn't worry at all. Since they've offered you the job, they really want you to work there.

[Anonymous]

I was in the same situation a couple of years ago. I got a job offer just after I found out I was pregnant. I debated between staying with my old job or changing... finally decided to change. I waited to tell anyone until nearly 20 weeks - I was not showing for a long time, so I held out until I needed to move into maternity clothes. This gave me enough time to establish myself, show people my work ethic, and build personal rapport with my new boss.

When I told him, I didn't go into specifics on timing, but indicated that I had found out after accepting and that I was planning on working up until delivery and that I looked forward to coming back. Long story short, it all worked out fine. I DID have to go into leave "debt" while I took time off. I did check with HR after I made my official announcement to make sure that was acceptable.

One thing to be careful about is telling any friends who might know people you work with - just something to think about.

[Anonymous]

If you do disclose to negotiate make sure it remains confidential. It's only fair to you. 6 weeks is still very early, so you should by no means feel like you have to say something (I don't think anybody should feel obligated till they are through the 1. trimester).