Should I Accept This New Job? (in between Maternity Leave Periods)

GuessHowMuch on 18/09/2023 - 17:18
Last edited 18/09/2023 - 21:47 by 1 other user

Hi all,

It is damn hard progressing your career whilst popping out babies and raising them. My career and salary has been on hold for 4-5 years because of this.

I have received a job offer which will be one step up in terms of seniority (I really should be two steps up by now, but that's OK) and will boost my salary by $40K a year.

I'm also 7 weeks pregnant, due in early May and plan to take 12 months off. I usually prefer sharing the news to my managers at 18 week mark once all tests etc have been done. I haven't revealed this to the hiring company either and know I'm not legally obligated to. Hiring company requires 6 months of service to be eligible for parental leave so I j u s t scrape through.

This job would be great but I am worried that the new manager would not take the pregnancy news well and will not provide a supportive work environment (part time, compressed hours etc) when I do return. They've given off slightly unsupportive vibes. However, it's in the corp agreement to provide flexibility for parents with below school age children.

On the other hand, my current team and organisation are really supportive but it means being stuck career-wise and salary wise for another 2 years.

Appreciate the wisdom of OzBargain community. Thank you!

Poll Options expired

  • 43
    - Stay at current company
  • 10
    - Take it. I can always look for another job in 2025 if things don’t work out
  • 7
    - Forget work, become stay at home mum (not that we can afford this, but one can dream)
Education & Work

Comments

  • Ozbar Gain on 18/09/2023 - 17:37
    +7

    Congrats! I am glad to hear that you are with child.

    I can't tell you what to do since I was born with a penis and recently started identifying as non binary for cheaper insurance premiums.

    But what I can say is that I'd choose a comfortable, supportive environment to work in while I have very young kids more so than a higher salary and potential unappreciative managers.
    However, that's of course all dependent on family income and financial situation. The idea should be to put you and bub under the least amount of stress (finances vs work stress).

    Do what you think is best and hopefully hubby fills the financial gaps where needed

    • Almost Banned on 18/09/2023 - 18:28
      +1

      Have a +1 for this:

      I can't tell you what to do since I was born with a penis and recently started identifying as non binary for cheaper insurance premiums.

    • GuessHowMuch on 18/09/2023 - 21:02

      Thank you! We have been trying for a while so are extra excited.

      And thank you for your thoughtful response.

      I guess I’m feeling a little bothered, if not stressed, by the situation now. That will probably increase if I’m in the job

  • Benoffie on 18/09/2023 - 17:55
    +1

    Personally Id stay and finish the pregnancy/ies where you are. Having support and consistency is more important that career progression.

    And, certainly in teaching, women who take permanent positions to only declare suddenly they are pregnant are openly despised. It is seen as a huge workforce planning hit having to recruit again and a blow to someone else who could have had the position and stayed in it (from the employers perspective).

    People can go on about the law and discrimination all they want but when you're pregnant and raising kids, it's a level of drama you just dont need.

    • AustriaBargain on 18/09/2023 - 18:15
      +3

      I usually prefer sharing the news to my managers at 18 week mark once all tests etc have been done.

      Yeah, not the kind of thing you want to spring on someone after getting a new job. How would OP feel if their pregnancy doctor agreed to see her throughout her pregnancy, but was herself secretly pregnant and knew wouldn't be available by the birth? The doctor may have every right in the world to do that, but OP would still be left high and dry.

      • GuessHowMuch on 18/09/2023 - 21:07
        +1

        I hear your point and don’t disagree. I’m not in a life/death industry so it’s a little different I think.

        You’ve made me consider telling the hiring manager before signing the contract so that I can give them a chance to share what they think. I could make my decision based on how they respond.

        • Seaword on 19/09/2023 - 14:48

          They wont say anything if they are smart as you would have a very strong discrimination case agaisnt them.

    • GuessHowMuch on 18/09/2023 - 21:04

      I feel for the women in teaching as openly despised is a very strong reaction. I guess it’s a natural reaction from the other side. Although I’ve had friends, not in teaching, who’ve done this and were met by lots of support and no judgement.

      I hear you about it being a level of drama that I won’t need.

  • Protractor on 18/09/2023 - 18:00
    -1

    Just join the union, and do what you normally do.
    If you have shared the baby news with other co-workers, you may not get to work it the way you want to.
    Workplaces are like sieves

    • Jake D on 19/09/2023 - 11:29

      Unions are the baddies

      • Protractor on 19/09/2023 - 12:46

        So QANTAS says said.

  • Almost Banned on 18/09/2023 - 18:29
    +1

    I wouldn't sacrifice my career progression on the chance that my new employer may not be 'supportive'.
    They are required by law to do certain things - and your current employer, while you think they have been supportive, they haven't promoted you.
    Take the promotion.

    • GuessHowMuch on 18/09/2023 - 21:12
      +1

      This is why I was leaning towards the choice at the start. Companies are introducing these policies (some of them very generous) to level the playing field and support women in their careers, whether it’s returning to work after mat leave or going off on mat leave.

      It’s mainly the human element/emotions that’s now the bigger consideration

  • AndyC1 on 18/09/2023 - 19:02
    +3

    What is your probation period? They do not have to give any reason for letting you go during your probation period, so watch this.

    • GuessHowMuch on 18/09/2023 - 21:08
      +1

      It’s two months. Thanks for raising probation, I hadn’t considered this

  • Tily on 18/09/2023 - 19:32
    +6

    Writing this from another woman’s perspective.

    I wouldn’t change jobs when I know I’m pregnant and have plans to go on 12 months maternity leave, even if it is a step up with a higher pay.

    There are too many uncertainties with pregnancies. Pregnancy might be a hard one, it may end up being high risk, you might give birth prematurely before reaching your 6 months, etc. Also higher seniority and pay usually means more stress as well. Do you really want/need the added stress whilst you’re pregnant, even if it is only for 6 months?

    Also as much as $40k increase is a lot, have a think about how this increase will put your family financially in the next few years, especially with young kids. I have gotten substantial increases in the past but after all the tax deductions/reductions in benefits, the extra money in my pocket just wasn’t worth the extra stress a more senior role came.

    I have to admit I took the opposite route to yourself and delayed motherhood to pursue my career, moved around and worked up to a comfortable position. Like yourself I chased the promotions and higher pay, but recently life have gotten the better of me and my priorities have changed. I would rather have a stable work environment that knows me and my capabilities, so I can focus on my child and their needs.

    It’s all about the timing of things and how these decisions works for yourself and family. Ultimately weight up the pros and cons and do what is right for you and your family. Only you will know what is best in your situation.

    • GuessHowMuch on 19/09/2023 - 12:59

      Thank you for your perspective. I too have delayed motherhood for career but haven’t gone as far as I’d like to be by now and am generally worried about stagnanting.

      Your comment about the additional stress really resonates. If I felt it was a more supportive environment, it might be ok. But my senses are telling me otherwise.

  • freefall101 on 18/09/2023 - 19:47
    +2

    I assume the job offer is a contract with a start date, or is it just verbal at this time? I'd be a bit worried about start dates being moved and the risk of the kid coming early. What happens if you need parental leave at 5 months and 20 days? What happens if you don't like this job and can't deal with 6 months of it (if they're the kind of place that might carry a grudge over taking mat leave then you might now want to work there anyway)? Basically, I'd weigh up all the risks.

    If it's a small/medium company I might stop and think about it more, but if it's a large one then really you're a cog in the machine. They'll hire a mat leave cover and just deal with it, likely it'll be easy to fill as they're already a place willing to allow someone to 'step up' into the role rather than already have experience.

    I wouldn't worry about when you return. If they're not flexible, go find another job at your new seniority level.

    • GuessHowMuch on 19/09/2023 - 13:04

      Yep it’s a contract with a fixed start date. You raise a good point about company size though - it’s a very large corporation. I’m keeping your point in mind for if or when I decide to move back to smaller companies

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 18/09/2023 - 20:02
    +1

    Go to your current job and ask them to match the offer, and if they do, then stay and once the time is right, let them know the good baby news!

    • GuessHowMuch on 19/09/2023 - 13:04
      +1

      I like this suggestion!

  • jolee3 on 18/09/2023 - 20:04
    +1

    I'd personally stay where I know I would be supported. I toyed with the idea of coming back from maternity leave and moving into a different direction that I know would pay higher but I just couldn't bring myself to take the risk and the stress.

    I've got two young children (took 12 months off for the second) and returned to the office earlier this year. I did a gradual start wfh and have been afforded support and flexibility which you can't really put a dollar value on. If anything I put myself under more pressure about pulling my weight as a part timer than anybody else has given me.

  • cookie2 on 18/09/2023 - 21:03

    I'd consider how it will look for the next workplace you move to, post next maternity leave period, when you only worked an 7 or 8 month period before you took your maternity leave.

  • Downvoter on 18/09/2023 - 21:11

    Chase dollars or have a stable, supportive and less stressful environment to have a child. They are mutually exclusive.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/09/2023 - 21:35

    I've known colleagues who have joined the company new and pregnant & then taken time off for mat. leave and it's been no drama. One even started IVF soon after joining and had to take leave as she had an underlying health condition that was exacerbated by undergoing IVF & the particular team she was in was supportive. It depends upon the company & team culture and also your direct manager.

    I don't understand why pregnancy is viewed differently by some people.

  • JIMB0 on 18/09/2023 - 21:47

    Become a stay at home mum while supporting your husband's career.

  • bargain huntress on 18/09/2023 - 21:54
    +2

    Forget work, become stay at home mum (not that we can afford this, but one can dream)

    If that really is a dream, then yes you could afford it: it would just require changing your lifestyle. If you cant pay the mortgage, selling the house and moving somewhere more regional for example, which might require your partner changing job too for example. Maybe your kids do homeschool instead of private school. Maybe they wear used clothes and play with used toys: little kids, care more about quality time with their parents than about stuff. Its all possible for you to choose these things, or not choose these things. The choice is yours and your partners.

  • Hardlyworkin on 18/09/2023 - 22:16
    +1

    You wouldn't qualify for unpaid parental leave with the new employer so they are not bound by the Parental Leave requirements of the National Employments Standards ( you won't have been working 12 months).

    The main part of this is that they wouldn't have to leave your job open for you when you return as you wouldn't have a legislated entitlement to unpaid work. Even if the new employer says they will, you would need a lawyer to enforce that rather than for example seeking help from the Fair Work Ombudsman. All your new employer would need to avoid is firing you because you're pregnant. They could however replace as as you couldn't fulfil the requirement of the job to work full time.

    In short, you will have very little rights with the new job as you won't have hit the eligibility criteria is the NES.

  • focus123 on 19/09/2023 - 14:41

    They've given off slightly unsupportive vibes
    This is the clue to stay away from the new role.
    no matter what is specified in the corporate agreement, you'll have to work with unsupportive managers to get those parental benefits.

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