Advice please

[MsKaci]

Good Morning, I recently found out I am pregnant, found out at 5 weeks and I'm now 7 weeks. I am starting a new job this coming Monday and I just need your advice on whether I tell them this early that I'm pregnant? I'm worried they won't pass my probation and will want to find someone else? I had my interview over a month ago, and at that point I didn't know I was pregnant. Let me know what your thoughts are please? Many thanks ❤️

[AngelMum1]

congratulations on your pregnancy. With regards to telling an employer this early is your choice, you will need to take into account the type of role you are doing, as dependent on what is doing will need risk assessments completed early. For myself i needed to tell my employer from a positive test due to being high risk and the nature of my job as I'm a care worker and fail my risk assessment. All employers are different have a read of your contract, as you will also need time off to attend your appointments

[MsKaci in reply to AngelMum1]

Thank you for your quick reply! No heavy lifting, desk based. However, I do have to undertake some training in the next couple weeks, and yesterday received a call from my midwife, introducing herself and asking for me to go and see her next week Friday 20th for my first midwife appointment, and I'm just worried that asking for time off, even if it is just a few hours whilst I'm in training is going to annoy them. Don't know if it would be easier if I just told them I'm pregnant as surely they would understand midwife appointments then just thinking I have a GP appointment.

[Seb9]

If you're not doing anything that's high risk then you could wait to tell your employer, but it will be hard to explain to them when you need time off for appointments, so you may want to let them know. They can't fail your probation on the ground of you being pregnant, you could contact pregnant then screwed which is a charity set up to help mums who need work advice and see what they say.

I would also say, because you're pregnant before you start your new job, you won't be eligible for statutory maternity leave, you'll need to apply for maternity allowance from the government. You can apply for it from 26 weeks pregnant and I'd recommend you apply for it as soon as you hit 26 weeks as it's a really slow process, I had to phone and phone them and my payments only started the 2nd week of my maternity leave.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck in your new job x