Should I be honest about my pregnancy?

I’m 11 weeks pregnant and I just graduated from college. I’m looking for jobs in my career field and will be starting interviews next week. I know, legally, I don’t have to disclose that I’m pregnant. I also know that they can’t use it as a reason to not hire me, but they could come up with a different reason. I feel like I’m starting off on the wrong foot if I don’t tell them I’m pregnant, but I really need a job. Should I take my chances and be honest? If I don’t disclose during an initial interview, at what point should I?

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That’s personal. Congratulations.

I did not tell them. I told them during my training because I had to due to what we were being trained. They were supportive and almost 2 years later I’m still with them :grin:

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Personally I wouldn’t disclose until I had to.

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I would be honest from the start

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Honesty is always the right choice.

I didn’t tell them until I had a 2 month old baby and they put it together lol

I didn’t disclose until I had bad bouts of morning sickness. I was about 12 weeks when I started working and wasn’t showing until a few months later but would disappear to vomit. :skull:

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I didn’t say anything until after my probation period :woman_shrugging:t2:

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When i was pregnant with my second child i didnt tell the job i was workin at that i was pregnant till i started to show, they didnt fire me or anythin i stayed till i had the baby then went back like a week after i had her.

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It depends on the job. If it’s physical labor, you absolutely should tell them

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You’re 11 weeks, some people don’t find out until then or after. What I would do is get a job and then tell them after the whole process, after you’ve started and tell them you just found out!

But also, you don’t have to tell them at all. I’ve never told potential employers I was pregnant! I’m heavier and it’s easy to hide for me but they don’t need to know :slightly_smiling_face:

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Dont tell them, we want to believe they won’t discriminate but they will. Your early along so later u Can say you just found out. Or you can choose to say you decided not to disclose at hiring. It’s your right to privacy. Do what is best for your future child, a stable life lead by a stable job.

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Dont tell them and wait til you are hired.

Absolutely not! Do not say a word until you have an offer in your hand. No need and as much as it ‘shouldn’t’ affect your employability it unfortunately might well do. Good luck

They could use it as a reason to hire you too.
Perspective is everything.
Think positively.

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Don’t tell them. They won’t cite it as a reason not to hire, but if you’re qualified/ overqualified and you don’t get the position it’s likely that’s the reason.

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I wouldn’t disclose until you need to but if I’d check out their maternity leave policies. I don’t think federal fmla in the US kicks in until a year but some companies have a similar policy that covers you your first year. Could affect which company you decide to take a position with :slightly_smiling_face: good luck!

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Most people don’t tell their boss until after the first trimester anyways maybe wait until then. That’s if you wanted to.

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I wouldn’t and i wouldn’t feel bad either, unless I knew i couldn’t do the job, ei firefighter, construction, pro athlete, etc.

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I had the exact same situation years ago, when I was interviewing for one of the big 6 accounting firms. I was about 4 months pregnant and not showing. I didn’t tell them until about a month later. Luckily for me, and them-there were no issues. Had there been, I would have pursued legal action. Good luck.

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I was in that position when I was pregnant with my son. I didn’t tell them during the interview in August. Got the job. My son was born in December. I took 12 weeks leave and came back to work and everything was fine.

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I wouldn’t say anything untill after the 3 months is up (in case of something happening to baby and it done not make it) unless there is a risk to baby in you job duitys, like heavy lifting.

Congratulations

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I got a job when I was 12 weeks. Went off on medical leave at 31 weeks. They still didn’t know I was pregnant.

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I wouldn’t say anything quite yet

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I didn’t with my first pregnancy. I finally told my employer when I was showing to the point that it couldn’t be hidden anymore lol

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I agree that you shouldn’t tell them lol. Just find out when you’re a month into your job coincidentally lol

I wouldn’t say anything but I would inquire as my job won’t let the FMLA kick in for a year and that definitely affected our future family planning as I am not here a year yet due to a layoff last summer

You don’t have to disclose it no, but if you do then yes, they can simply just say “we went in another direction” without even giving a reason. You both have that right :woman_shrugging:

Honestly, I’ve stopped telling potential jobs that I’m pregnant. In the past they’ve been pretty accepting of it after I’ve worked for a bit and shown them my work ethic prior to telling them I’m pregnant. Good luck!

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I was in the same position about ten years ago. I was at a point where I didn’t exactly look pregnant, more like I had eaten too much pizza lol I chose not to say anything. I’d love to say it went well but my manager told me about two months later that she knew it at the interview but couldn’t sat anything and that she wouldn’t have hired me. She made it increasingly difficult for me to complete my daily requirements, adding more and more daily. I ended up losing the job. I was in Tennessee and it was a Right to Work state. So all that to say, if you’re at 11 weeks and not showing, keep it mum as long as possible. Congratulations!

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Do not tell them until you’re hired and insurance is activated

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You could wait a few weeks and tell them that you “just” found out, but while they can’t discriminate based on pregnancy, that doesn’t mean that, as you said, they can’t find another reason not to hire you or when you do announce it, depending on your state laws, that they can’t find another reason to terminate you. Especially if you have a probationary period.

Honesty is probably the best policy here. Although what you’re probably going to run into is employers who don’t want to hire someone who is going to go out on maternity leave in 6 months, regardless if they don’t use that as the reason to not hire or later terminate you.

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We had a cook who was pregnant and never disclosed, and lifting heavy stuff was a bad situation waiting to happen thankfully nothing happened and everything was ok but depending on your situation of course

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You do not have to disclose that to any potential employers. They aren’t necessarily allowed to use that as a reason not to hire someone, but they will absolutely take that into consideration…not worth losing an offer over.

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I wouldn’t disclose it until after you’re hired.
You don’t need to let them know anything, only one you need to contact once you have the job is HR to file for maternity leave.

Do not disclose it
Not relevant

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You are not obligated to tell them. If you are hired they will figure it out when you start showing. You are correct that they can’t use that as a reason but could find another one not to hire you.

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Most jobs don’t even offer maternity leave unless you’ve been employed by them for X amount of months. I would tell them right off the bat.

Any of my jobs I had gotten never told them I was pregnant

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I’ve been a hiring manager at 3 different companies. Don’t tell them. It’s unnecessary and will likely give you a disadvantage, especially if there’s qualified competition. Once you’re hired, show your value through your work and no one will bat an eye, when you’re ready to share the news!

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Don’t tell them. It’s none of their business. Tell them when maybe at 5-6 months. Personally I wouldn’t say anything until you get a congrats when are you due.

I know for a fact I’ve been discriminated for being pregnant. It’s not their business. Get hired and do your job and disclose HR when you need to start planning maternity leave.

Also, start thinking about child care wait lists.

I never disclosed I was pregnant. It doesn’t interfere with how good I am at my job. Yes you have appointments, but that’s disclosed to HR when requesting time off.

Don’t say anything until you’ve secured your position. If they decide to let you go at that point it’s pretty obvious WHY when they had no problems with hiring you to begin with.

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I wouldn’t say anything either

Nope and don’t worry about them knowing untill your about 28 weeks. Unless there’s heavy lifting and to let them know about maternity leave, you don’t have to explain yourself. You have months of working to establish a good relationship.

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I was pregnant when I started work and didn’t disclose that I was. I didn’t feel it was their business early on.

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Wait till you get the job then a couple days later tell them.

U won’t find a job if u tell them right off the bat so I wouldn’t tell them till ur at least 3 months at the job. They don’t want to have to find someone to take ur spot while on maternity leave then do another shuffle when u come back so I would play it safe and not say anything until absolutely need be :purple_heart:

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I wouldn’t bring it up at all.

Don’t tell them!! They will find other reasons not to hire you. By the time you are showing, you should already have shown your work ethic, etc and there shouldn’t be any problems!

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Say nothing. Get your job.

I wouldn’t if it won’t affect your job then a week after be like I just found out I’m pregnant

If you are only 11 weeks it is quite plausible that you dont know yet. I wouldnt tell any of them.

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do not disclose it doesnt affect your ability to do job. wait until you know pregnancy sticking and you are showing.

As an HR Manager - I would let them know after the offer is confirmed. Unconscious bias can be a real thing.

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No. If it doesn’t come up, don’t volunteer it. Street fully hired and you start. Then it doesn’t matter.

Even though legally they can’t not hire you because of your pregnancy, know that doesn’t mean they won’t. Wait until you’re hired. Even though it is 2023, people can still suck about maternity leave.

The new accommodations law that went into affect helps to protect pregnant workers. Make sure to look into the employer thoroughly before you select them, as they are just as important as you are to them.

Do NOT disclose your pregnancy. If you do, finding a job will become far more difficult. Discrimination is illegal, but if you volunteer the information, they’ll discriminate silently.

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Don’t tell them. I went through the same situation. They WILL use it as a reason, just not directly.

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You don’t have to and shouldn’t tell them a thing! Once all.the way hired if you need to miss work for an appointment or something that’s when I may talk to your supervisor and HR. Definitely don’t tell the recruiter or anyone during the hiring process.

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I don’t think you need to disclose it, unless it’s a job where you being pregnant would stop you from being able to do important aspects of the job. That early on, a lot of people wait to disclose a pregnancy to anybody, let alone their job. I would wait until about 20 weeks, or when you are noticeably showing, if that happens before 20 weeks. You can justify wanting to wait until you are in the “safe zone”.

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It’s discrimination if they refuse to hire you because your pregnant . If it’s heavy lifting etc, I’d tell them so that way they know In advance and can work around you being pregnant .

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I found out I was pregnant at 18 weeks !!! :woman_shrugging: you could get hired THEN find out you’re pregnant :smiley:
Congratulations and all the best xo

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I wouldn’t tell them because most of the time they won’t hire you and look for other candidates for the position

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Man, judging by these comments, it must suck being an American.

I wouldn’t say anything because you don’t have to disclose that info. You still in your first trimester so wait it out

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Don’t I did and a place refused to hire me because of it and said I was a risk.

Hopefully they’ll hire you based on your credentials and you’ll show them your value.

Don’t disclose the personal information during the interview.

I worked at an office through a temp agency.About a month and a half later I found out I was pregnant told the manager at the location I was working at. Once my contract was up the head office said as long as I didn’t have any problems doing my work to hire me permanently full time. Had the baby came back from maternity leave they transferred me to a different location which was closer to my home so no issues.

I would not say anything. But, it sucks that you’re about to start a career and have 6 wks with your baby before being expected to return to work

I wouldn’t say anything until after ur already hired.

I work in HR and I’m going to say please tell them. I disclosed in my last interviews, and I received offers from both places I interviewed at. And I was 8 months pregnant at the time. Here’s why:

  • depending on your field and demand, you may be able to negotiate paid maternity leave into your offer
  • you don’t want to work for a company who won’t hire pregnant people. They’re awful to work for, have poor ethics, and are (in general) terrible employers. Honestly, it’s very revealing and you can save yourself some headache from a bad employer.
  • if we know early on, HR can prepare you and inform you of your options. Paid leave, company benefits and policies, expectations, how much PTO you’ll accrue, etc. The last thing you will want is to go into a job without knowing if you will even have paid disability leave available to you. You won’t get FMLA, but if they know early on, you may be able to get more time. Just make sure you get it in writing.
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I wouldn’t. Even though they cannot use that as an excuse not to hire you, THEY WILL

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Personally I wouldn’t, because even though they legally can’t make that the reasoning they will in most cases. Especially if you plan on taking a lot of leave after you have baby.

Although legally employers are not allowed to discriminate against hiring someone who is pregnant, they will come up with other “reasons” to not hire you I would imagine as you stated. I wouldn’t disclose it and you can just play it off as you didn’t find out until later or etc. It’s none of their business.

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I wouldn’t say anything during interviews then once you accept an offer let them know

No one’s business, do not disclose!

I wouldn’t say anything. I don’t even mention I have kids when I go for a job, it’s not there business

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i did not tell my prior job because i was scared. i ended up telling them a month later and my boss was like “what? why wouldn’t i hire you i love kids!” they threw me a baby shower, got me christmas presents & celebrated thanksgiving with me. if you’re in the right place it’ll be known. im very grateful for their support & they even made lots of accommodations for me. give it some time before you say anything. even though you really don’t have to say anything at all.

I would ask about how the time off looks like if someone were to get pregnant there first year because fmla dosnt cover until than
Decide from there

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You are early enough that you could always say you didn’t know right away. I suppose I don’t really know

I would not disclose it. It’s not relevant right now. The only thing relevant is you can work and they are want to interview. I did a phone interview one time and then came in 4 months pregnant

11 weeks I wouldn’t be telling anyone mama

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If you tell most likely you won’t get the job.

Legally I don’t think they can refuse to hire you based on you being pregnant.

Many don’t even know at 11 weeks don’t say nothing till you start to show

I honestly waited till I was 4.5 months pregnant before I told anyone just in case. I wouldn’t say anything yet. Tell them later. If they ask why you didn’t disclose just say you wanted to make sure the baby and you were good before saying anything to anyone

Don’t tell them, after hired wait a bit etc tell them you just found out …

Why would you? It’s none of their business until it prevents you from performing your duties. At that point, take leave, and come back when you’re ready. If they retaliate, take legal action.

Don’t say anything and don’t act like its anything untoward. So you are having a child. Everybody does this every day! Its a wonderful thing. That’s your mantra. Dont let them cut you out. When the birth comes take sick time, just like any one would for any thing… then go back to work. … I don’t know what industry your in, but you should NOT be apologetic for a normal human function!

Get the job then tell them lol.

If you want a job, you don’t tell them until you are visibly pregnant and have too.

Places do have to carry insurance on their place of business , keep that in mind because anything could happen and if your not honest then they can’t help you if anything was to happen . All places of business as OSHA laws they have to comply with and are put in place for a reason. Insurance companies don’t like to pay out if they don’t have to and have legit reason and employers don’t have to take care of their employees in the same way because of this . It’s always just best to be honest that way if anything does happen you don’t have to bring yourself low and have to lie about anything . If you have to lie the job isn’t worth it

I never disclosed I was pregnant. And I interviewed at 17 weeks. I had a really tough pregnancy and didn’t want to have to be in the backend explaining anything god forbid anything happened.

You are not required to tell them during the interview. As long as you can meet the physical demands you should be okay. Don’t disclose your pregnancy until after you have started work. May even pretend that you JUST found out you are pregnant after your first couple weeks of working.

Don’t volunteer any information

I wouldn’t say anything see how you get on with the job first and then tell them that your pregnant and they ain’t gotta know how far along u are or when you found out for all they knew you could of found days before or even on the day you decide to tell them.

Girl whether u like it or not, they will discriminate. I wouldn’t say a damn thing