I received a job offer for a new job that I was really excited about in March 2020, right as our city shut down for COVID reasons. I had not informed my current employers and the company offering the new job told me to hold off until they knew when they could take on new employees. I agreed to do so, as my kids were suddenly at home indefinitely and the uncertainty made a switch really daunting. So, since them, I have stayed in current position at my current company, where I am really unhappy/unchallenged.
I stayed in touch with the new company periodically, asking for updates, expressing my continued interest, excitement about working with them, etc. Communication was fairly one-sided with me reaching out to them and them responding. 9 months later, they let me know that they would be willing to onboard me beginning any time in January. However, I shortly thereafter found out that I was recently pregnant. When I was far enough along to feel secure in the pregnancy, and as January approached, I contacted the new employers to ask more about the onboarding process, when they need a choice of start date by, and to transparently let them know that I am pregnant and would need to take leave in June/July. My contact at the new company seemed positive and told me that she would discuss with the board. But I have now been waiting a couple weeks (I reached out to her a week after our talk and have not heard back).
I am wondering if it was a mistake to try to switch jobs during the pandemic/while pregnant, if I should have kept quiet about the pregnancy, if their lack of response is meaningful.
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7 Comments
7 Comments
Sweet Caroline
2.36k
12/18/20 at 1:47AM UTC
in
They may just be trying to figure out how to make it work. Onboarding in Jan and then having you go out for 2 months or whatever amount you plan to take unpaid would be a challenge for them. Fingers crossed it keeps moving forward.
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Stefanie Cossalter Motley
26
12/23/20 at 12:01AM UTC
in
It sounds like the company was not terrific at proactively giving you updates, so it's likely they're just taking a while to come up with a revised game plan. I would follow up with the recruiter (or your new manager, if you have his/her contact information) and state that you're looking forward to getting started in January, and do they have a firm date yet? When you've been in the role for a month or two and feeling more settled in, you can start making a plan for coverage while you're out on leave next summer. Starting in January will give you enough time to "settle in" to the new role and company - and hopefully it will be less stressful for you/your pregnancy than working for your current employer, where you're so unhappy! Congrats and good luck.
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Anonymous
12/23/20 at 2:14AM UTC
in
An employer may not single out pregnancy-related conditions for special procedures to determine an employee's ability to work. It isn't legal. I would follow up as if the offer stands and then go from there.
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MoneyCareerMotherhood
141
Smart financial decisions for work & home
12/23/20 at 12:02PM UTC
in
It's a busy time of year and their delayed response may have to do with things outside of your circumstances, so I wouldn't worry about it. I'd follow up after a period of time though, because it seems like you've really had to drive the contact there. Also - It's your choice to tell them or not tell them about your pregnancy and it legally can't affect their decision to hire you, but it's possible that your eligibility for the new company's mat leave benefit is dependent upon how long you've been with the company (like 1 year). So it can be a good thing you told them, because if you're not eligible for their maternity leave benefits it could affect your decision to accept the position.
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1 Reply
Anonymous
12/23/20 at 1:14PM UTC
in
(This is the original poster:)) Thank you so much for your response, I did follow up and heard back exactly that; since I won't have been there for a year, I can take leave for any "reasonable amount of itme", but it will be unpaid and my health insurance through the company will not be provided during that time. I'm trying to figure out whether it would still make sense to take the job and do cobra during my leave, for example. It would be for me and my two other kids. It's not really an option to add us to my husband's insurance.
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1 Reply
MoneyCareerMotherhood
141
Smart financial decisions for work & home
12/28/20 at 2:33PM UTC
in
I'm so glad you were able to gather more information so you can make the best decision for you and your family. Congratulations to you and all the best as you proceed!
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Noreen Whysel
76
12/27/20 at 2:20PM UTC
in
Be sure to compare the cost of COBRA against your state’s medical coverage. It could be a lot cheaper. In fact for a brief time we were on our State plan, we had one of our kids on Medicaid and the other on her college plan. My youngest found several good doctors through an adolescent health center affiliated with the hospital and most of his care was free. Even when he saw a specialist and we had to pay full price it was a lot cheaper than COBRA would have been.
I’m not sure why it’s not an option to put them on your husbands plan. A job loss (even if you are immediately re-employed) would be a reason to add dependents to the spouse’s plan.
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