Pregnant - New job or old job with new company, which is riskier?

[Anonymous]

I am due in Aug.

Been with current company for many years, 100% WFH, no travel.

But division getting sold this month. New company will retire the product on which I work, so basically I would have to reinvent myself with one of their business units across next 1 year to make myself valuable. New company is not local, so travel once or twice a month needed, Rest of time should be WFH as I do now. I am of great value to them for the firs one year, but also that is when I will be off for 2-3 months.

I have another offer, WFH 2 days per week, office is less than a mile away, this needs travel once or twice a month as well. This is more stable since I know what my job is going in. I am actively recruited instead of just being moved. The 3 day at work will be a major adjustment for me, especially with a new baby. And ramp up on the new job will be harder that if i were to stay put.

So in both places I am relatively new, there are challenges and taking 6-8 weeks of maternity leave within 2 months of the job. Which option would you choose?

[Anonymous]

They both suck - "travel once or twice a month" usually means twice and usually travel ramps up, not down (unless it is just during a transition period).

I'd stick with the old company through maternity leave and try to find something with less travel during/after maternity leave, frankly.

[Anonymous]

WFH with a child still means you need child care.
And the new job's location is only a mile away, so commute is not an issue.

[Anonymous]

what does you husband do and what are you planning for childcare. What is your financial situation w/ childcare included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WFH with a child still means you need child care.
And the new job's location is only a mile away, so commute is not an issue.

Op here, Yes I will have a nanny.
WFH will help with breastfeeding ( I hate pumping and had no supply with my first) and my own mental/physical health. Not to mention I can be more comfortable leaving the baby with nanny, given that baby will be only 6-8 weeks old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WFH with a child still means you need child care.
And the new job's location is only a mile away, so commute is not an issue.

Op here, Yes I will have a nanny.
WFH will help with breastfeeding ( I hate pumping and had no supply with my first) and my own mental/physical health. Not to mention I can be more comfortable leaving the baby with nanny, given that baby will be only 6-8 weeks old.

Personally, if you want the new job, I would not allow the WFH aspect to trump since it's only for at most 1 year (or however long you will be pumping). Why don't you see if you could negotiate 4 days WFH until the baby is 9 mo old? Then go 2 days WFH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They both suck - "travel once or twice a month" usually means twice and usually travel ramps up, not down (unless it is just during a transition period).

I'd stick with the old company through maternity leave and try to find something with less travel during/after maternity leave, frankly.

Op here. Yes the new job is a day trip to PA. The old one to Connecticut, not sure of the travel logistics. I was thinking travel 1-2 days per month is far more preferable than having to work outside the home? Provided the travel is after when the baby is atleast 3 months old, so maybe starting Jan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what does you husband do and what are you planning for childcare. What is your financial situation w/ childcare included.

We plan a nanny, budget 3K for 7-8 hrs per day? Financial situation works both ways, work with a nanny, or staying home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both suck - "travel once or twice a month" usually means twice and usually travel ramps up, not down (unless it is just during a transition period).

I'd stick with the old company through maternity leave and try to find something with less travel during/after maternity leave, frankly.

Op here. Yes the new job is a day trip to PA. The old one to Connecticut, not sure of the travel logistics. I was thinking travel 1-2 days per month is far more preferable than having to work outside the home? Provided the travel is after when the baby is atleast 3 months old, so maybe starting Jan?

If the travel really is only 1 - 2 days per month. When I hear 1 - 2 times per month, I think 3 - 6 days per month, not 1 - 2. But yes, if something is a day trip - then that's very different than airplane/overnight travel and much more managable.

I still feel like staying with the old company through the maternity leave is preferable, and working from home full time is sooooooo sweet, I'd hesitate to give that up during this transition period in my life. I think in 7 - 12 months you'll be in a better position to look for a new position, if needed, and know what your priorities are after baby is here. You may find working from home isn't actually ideal once baby is here... or you may value it so much there's no way you'd want to give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both suck - "travel once or twice a month" usually means twice and usually travel ramps up, not down (unless it is just during a transition period).

I'd stick with the old company through maternity leave and try to find something with less travel during/after maternity leave, frankly.

Op here. Yes the new job is a day trip to PA. The old one to Connecticut, not sure of the travel logistics. I was thinking travel 1-2 days per month is far more preferable than having to work outside the home? Provided the travel is after when the baby is atleast 3 months old, so maybe starting Jan?

If the travel really is only 1 - 2 days per month. When I hear 1 - 2 times per month, I think 3 - 6 days per month, not 1 - 2. But yes, if something is a day trip - then that's very different than airplane/overnight travel and much more managable.

I still feel like staying with the old company through the maternity leave is preferable, and working from home full time is sooooooo sweet, I'd hesitate to give that up during this transition period in my life. I think in 7 - 12 months you'll be in a better position to look for a new position, if needed, and know what your priorities are after baby is here. You may find working from home isn't actually ideal once baby is here... or you may value it so much there's no way you'd want to give it up.

OP here, yes I understand this is conventional wisdom and I can continue to go about my pregnancy guilt free and stress free, since I am not actively making any move. And I have been WFH for past 3 years and I really love it. A commute and a cube are unbearable for me even now, so with a baby it will get worse.
Whereas, the new job is probably the best new one I can find (if I *had* to find a new one) with work/life balance, career growth opportunities and the non existent commute, and over years I can increase my WFH days. But I have to prove myself first and that is going to be difficult with my pregnancy and being close to my 3rd trimester. It also requires major people mgmt work, so being in office 2-3 days per week initially is required.

I do agree staying put and waiting for a year is probably the best, since neither of them are clearly the winner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WFH with a child still means you need child care.
And the new job's location is only a mile away, so commute is not an issue.

Op here, Yes I will have a nanny.
WFH will help with breastfeeding ( I hate pumping and had no supply with my first) and my own mental/physical health. Not to mention I can be more comfortable leaving the baby with nanny, given that baby will be only 6-8 weeks old.

Personally, if you want the new job, I would not allow the WFH aspect to trump since it's only for at most 1 year (or however long you will be pumping). Why don't you see if you could negotiate 4 days WFH until the baby is 9 mo old? Then go 2 days WFH.

I am not really sure I *want* the new job, it is a lateral move, but with growth opportunities. It just appears more stable from where I am now.
The problem really is I am not sure how my current job will turn out to be in 6 months to a year, it could take a turn for the worse or better.

[Anonymous]

If the current employer is not stable with the merger, then jump ship. The bigger question for me is does the new employer know you are pregnant and how would they feel about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the current employer is not stable with the merger, then jump ship. The bigger question for me is does the new employer know you are pregnant and how would they feel about that?

I only have verbal offer, actual will come in later this week. They dont know yet, before I accept I will discuss the maternity leave/travel starting Jan/WFH specifics.
This is something I had applied to in Nov for a different job with same company, and they contacted me last month for a different position they had which appears to be a good fit.
I had stopped applying in Jan once I was sure of viability, just so i dont have to make these hard decisions I am faced with now.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I did not get the new job, so staying put. In one way it is easier not to have to make a decision.

[Anonymous]

sorry you didn't get the job.