Do you have to tell a potential employer that you are pregnant?
By RosieB
@RosieB (10)
Canada
February 19, 2007 12:22pm CST
I'm not interested in the legality of this, only what you would do in my situation. I am 21 weeks pregnant, and need to find a job so I can help with the bills until the baby comes. I moved back to my home city and was working a temp job for about 2 months, at the end of which I found out I was pregnant. Early in my pregnancy I had a hard time with morning sickness and fatigue, so I felt it was not the right time to be looking for a job. Now I am feeling a whole lot better, and would like to find work, but temporary positions in my area are few and far between and usually require some sort of college degree or specified training. I could easily get a job as a cashier, or customer service rep, but they are all permanent positions. If you were in my situation, would you tell your potential employer that you were pregnant if it wasn't obvious by how you look? why or why not? If not, how would you tell the alter?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@jmcafam (2890)
• United States
19 Feb 07
Good discussion. I don't think that you should have to tell the employeer right off. Cause some may say that they don't look at the fact you are pregnant but they do. When I was pregnant with my second child I was looking for a job and it was obvious that I was expecting. I could not find anything. Not even a consigment store would hire because I was pregnant. I went on so many interviews and did not get any of the jobs.
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@RosieB (10)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
That actually happened to me at an interview. The initial application I filled out online and the asked how long I wanted to work there. It was over a month ago and I was just barely 3 months pregnant, so I selected the 3-6 months option. I was called for an interview the next day and when I went to the appointment the person who did my interview asked how firm I was on the 3-6 months, so I said very because I am 3 months pregnant. She said that wouldn't matter, and didn't write it anywhere on the paper she was filling out. Then I was called for a 2nd interview and she said that my previous experience was not diverse enough for the job..... it was in customer service, and I've worked in customer service 6 years. I know a few people who have worked for the company that I was applying to work at and they had only 1 previous job with less then a year experience. I am pretty sure that I was not hired because I said I was pregnant.
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@firechick72 (167)
• United States
19 Feb 07
it may be wrong but no I did not tell because unfortunately most of them will not hire you. I waited until I worked there for awhile then told. one place I told that I just found out and another one I just said it didn't come up so I didn't say. like I say it may be wrong but I would not tell.
yea most employees will not agree and my star will probably go down but it is life today unfortunately.
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@RosieB (10)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
Thanks for the "it didn't come up so I didn't tell". I've been trying to think of how I could bring it up to an employer, but I guess the answer would just be to not bring it up and then if they say anything just tell them exactly that... I guess give my 2 weeks notice before my due date, as I plan on taking a little more then the allowed 1 year of maternity leave (I live in Canada). Still need to think about this a little I guess.
@XxAngelxX (2830)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
No I don't think I would as I am of the opinion you'd have a harder time getting on in this position if they knew you were expecting. It may not be the right thing to do, but I really can't see myself telling them I was having a baby if it weren't noticable. We all need to pay the bills and unfortunately in most jobs the employees are replaceable, so it's not like the company would have a hard time to find someone else to do the job once I left to have my baby.
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