Pregnancy & Job Interview

[missjones 0]

Hello Everyone,

I have a question about job interviews and being pregnant. I am looking to change into another job field and I have a little bun in my oven. At this point in my pregnancy, people could probably tell that I am pregnant, depending on what I am wearing. I know according to Federal Laws I am NOT REQUIRED to tell my potential employer that I am expecting, nor can they deny me because I am pregnant.

I have heard different views of this; some say that I should tell my future employer, since I will be taking a significant time off work for childbirth. This way, they know well in advance that they may need a replacement to cover my absence.

Others say that I should not tell them, because they may deny me the position, and it would be difficult to prove that they denied me specifically because of my pregnancy. However, if I don't tell them, sooner or later they are going to know that I am pregnant. And they can calculate that I was pregnant during my interview. Then again, I am not required to tell, so I don't know.

What do you think? Tell or don't tell. (If you work/have worked in human resources, or have experienced this yourself I would definitely appreciate your response.)

Thanks,

missjones

[Niels Bohr 72]

Your employer will hire you based on your professionalism. It's an illegal practice for them to use information unrelated to business to determine your employment.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

One question: does this job allow you to WFH (as this may be an acceptable compromise)?

[Niels Bohr 72]

Whether you tell them or not, it will not affect your employment decision. It's an illegal practice for them to not employ you based on your pregnancy.

[missjones 0]

Whether you tell them or not, it will not affect your employment decision. It's an illegal practice for them to not employ you based on your pregnancy.

Yes, I am well aware of that. I am just curious to see other's opinions . I have friends who will debate about the situation all night and feel that SOME employers take pregnancy into consideration, and can use the excuse of being "overqualified" or "underqualified". The discrimination would be hard to prove. Thanks for your input.

[isleta521 5]

Just my opinion, I would tell them as a courtesy. If they are interested in you then it should not be an issue. In the long run they will see that you are upfront and level with them, a quality that is rare in people. If they dont hire you (for some unknown reason) then maybe you are better off looking for something else anyway.

BTW congrats on your pregnancy!

Edited April 20, 2007 by isleta521

[missjones 0]

Just my opinion, I would tell them as a courtesy. If they are interested in you then it should not be an issue. In the long run they will see that you are upfront and level with them, a quality that is rare in people. If they dont hire you (for some unknown reason) then maybe you are better off looking for something else anyway.

Yea, thats what I was thinking, because I am that type of person. But some of my friends are like NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Of course I will do what I want, but as I stated before, I am curious to see what others would do. Thanks.

[*JG* 2]

I would tell them. Like someone said, if they are interested, they will be interested no matter what. Plus, I think it would not start off on the right foot if you weren't completely honest with them and they too offense to it later. I would personally wonder about an employee who was not up front with me from the very beginning....what else would they hide or lie about?

Every business has dealt with the issue of pregnancy in their work environment. It shouldnt' be anything new to them.

"Proving" discrimination is one of the hardest things you can imagine. My ex-husband and I have been embroiled in a blatant disability discrimination lawsuit with his former employer for the last 4 years. It certainly isn't like a Law & Order episode where they complete everything in an hour. You never want to have to go there....believe me.

[Sinergy 3]

I would say dont tell them until atleast a few weeks after you start.

yes it is illegal for them NOT to hire you bc you are pregant, BUT they can not hire you for any other reason they come up with.

most companies dont want to hire pregnant women, they realise that they will be paying you maternity leave shortly after you begin your job there. if they dont know at the interview , IT WONT HURT THEM.

just make it look like a surprise a couple weeks later,

unless you are already showing ALOT, then my plan can be voided

nvm your only 13 weeks, you can do it

Edited April 20, 2007 by Ionescu

[randolady 1]

Whether you tell them or not, it will not affect your employment decision. It's an illegal practice for them to not employ you based on your pregnancy.

Just because it's illegal doesn't mean they won't do it. Employers can come up with all sorts of legal excuses not to hire you to cover up for the fact that they don't like that you're pregnant. Like Jomo's girl says, it's difficult to prove discrimination.

Personally, I would wait to switch jobs until after having the baby. But if you're going to interview, I guess you should tell them. Honesty is the best policy.

[almaty 19]

tell them....

[Amby 490]

Personally I would wait BUT on the other hand I was the executive chef at a restaurant and had a girl that was fairly overweight tell me a few weeks after she started working there as the pastry chef that she was 30 weeks pregnant and didn't know until a few days ago. That REALLY pissed me off. How can you not know after that long? But as you're still quite early I wouldn't worry about it.

[Ladylethal 12]

I'd tell, to show you're an honest person, which would right away say what type of person you are. If they don't hire you 'cus of the pregnancy, maybe you were better off not working for them anyway.

[Niels Bohr 72]

If you're pregnant, work for a business with a HR policy. Don't won't for a small business where one person is the HR person. A company with an abundant information about HR, and ethics is the company a pregnant person should work for. To name a few, retail stores. They don't judge you based on your pregnancy because that is based on their self-regulation. If you work for a corporate name, they also follow this set of guidelines. As long as you don't have any conflict of interest, anything that goes against their company, they will let you work.

If however, you decide to work for a one person HR Staff, and Boss...employment termination is at the discretion of that person. They can terminate you whenever they want, unless, if it's discrimination against age, sex, race, religion, etc...

Edited April 20, 2007 by consolemaster

[*JG* 2]

If you're pregnant, work for a business with a HR policy. Don't won't for a small business where one person is the HR person. A company with an abundant information about HR, and ethics is the company a pregnant person should work for. To name a few, retail stores. They don't judge you based on your pregnancy because that is based on their self-regulation. If you work for a corporate name, they also follow this set of guidelines. As long as you don't have any conflict of interest, anything that goes against their company, they will let you work.

If however, you decide to work for a one person HR Staff, and Boss...employment termination is at the discretion of that person. They can terminate you whenever they want, unless, if it's discrimination against age, sex, race, religion, etc...

As a side note to this post.....small companies, under 6 employees, are pretty much exempt from Federal discrimination guidelines. It's the most frustrating thing.