4 mos. Pregnant & starting new RN job; Employer doesn't know yet; Will I be fired?

AprilRNhere · Nov 18, 2007

I just want to ditto a previous poster...you have to be employed for a year for FMLA to effect you. There's also a minimum number of employees they have to have.

Advice...make yourself indispensible. Be the best employee you can be...and they'll want you back.

kabrn · Nov 18, 2007

Yes FMLA is only available after 1 year of employment, however it is a law that a company must provide you with 6 weeks off for maternity leave. If you do not have sick/vacation/personal time available you will have to take it unpaid, or if you have short term disability through your employer you will make something like 60% of your normal wage while you are off. It is supposed to be 8 weeks for a c-section delivery but companies are getting around that more and more lately.

TrudyRN · Nov 18, 2007

You really need to learn the HR policies at your facility. Read it in the HR Manual.

Do NOT tell them you're pregnant a single second before you absolutely can't hide it any more. It is not their business.

You need a lawyer so you can learn all of your rights.

That said, just get through your orientation and be a good worker and keep the lines of communication oopen between you and your boss. Let her know exactly when you are going to go on Mat Leave and exactly when you will be back. Do this in WRITING, perhaps via email, so you have a record that you absolutely told her and that she received your notice. I still say you have no obligation to tell them ANYTHING about your personal life until you absolutely must. You should read up on the history of maternity leave and other feminist issues. Your foremothers fought long and hard so you could be treated with dignity and respect at this time, over this issue and others that are peculiar to women.

GET THE FACTS from 2 or 3 attorneys and from your HR Manual and keep your mouth shut and good luck.

PediRN · Nov 18, 2007

this question has come up before. All I have to say is, once nursing management starts discriminating against pregnant employees, they're going to be in a world of trouble, being that the profession is still >90% women and we're trying to recruit younger nurses.

nurz2be · Nov 18, 2007

If any of you out there have experience with this, I would love to hear about it...
When I applied for the job I was 2 months pregnant... I am finally starting the job but now I am 4 months pregnant. I haven't told them for fear that they wouldn't hire me. When I do tell them... Could they fire me for being pregnant before I got hired? Will I be able to take a leave? How soon should I tell them?
so confused and scared... i really need this job!
sorry i posted the same thread in two forums, just to get more responses

They can not ask about or fire you for being pregnant. The catch here is if when you start you on hired with a "probation" status. Most jobs have this. At times it can be 30-90 days. I am not trying to scare you just make you aware. They can fire you in that probation time for any infraction. That being said your best bet is to mind your p's and q's if you have a probationary period.

CONGRATS on the little one.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 18, 2007

First, congratulations!

Second: they can't legally fire you just for being pregnant.

However (employment at will states aside), if your work performance suffers because of it--say you're taking excessive amounts of time off for appointments or what not, or you spend most of your time throwing up or resting than actually getting work done, then they do have grounds to let you go. But termination in that case would be because of insufficient performance, not pregnancy. You could fight it in court if that's what does happen, but it may be an uphill battle, especially if you really did spend most of the mornings yakking your guts up instead of doing your job.

Don't worry too much...but don't forget to CYA either :) Read up on your facility's policies and stay on top of your game at work--don't give them bona fide grounds to dismiss you.

CarVsTree · Nov 18, 2007

Congratulations :)
Just wanted to add:
This is only available after being employed for a year and working a minimum number of hours.

Correct.

OP, don't assume they will treat you badly. Most employers will not. Just tell your manager. It is important for you to protect your baby while at work. For instance certain drugs you should not handle while pregnant. Also, you'll need to be careful with lifts, slides etc.

Before you speak to your manager, familiarize yourself with the labor laws in your state regarding pregnancy. Good luck.

Nrs_angie, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2007

Just curious as to why the secret? I interviewed when I was prenant both times and both times I was upfront and told them I was pregnant. The first was a nursing home right out of college. They hired me on the spot. Then, when I was pregnant with #2, went to the hospital and I got the call the next day. It really wasn't a big deal to them. My thinking is this, do you want to WORK for someone who will give you a hard time about being pregnant? Because once that baby does come, it is all about the child. I would tell them right away so that they can plan for your leave. Oh, the hospital floor that hired me? The unit manager asks me to come back and work for her every time I see her;)

well im keeping it secret because... the first time I called Human resources about info on applying for a job... I told the girl on the phone and she told me "don't say a word"... so her telling me to keep it secret makes me think that they won't hire me if they knew...

kcalohagirl · Nov 18, 2007

First of all, congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that I have that out of the way. . . . *grin*

In my experience, (which is not extensive, just so you know) nursing is a job which is dominated by women. Women get pregnant. Lots of nurses are younger. Younger women are more likely to get pregnant than older ones. Or should I say, younger women are more likely to make the decision to start a family than us older, grumpier gals are. *lol*

On my unit, we like to joke that pregnancies come in pairs. I was a new grad 18 months ago. One of my fellow new grads should give birth tomorrow. Another nurse on our unit gave birth (6 weeks prematurely) 4 weeks ago. One year ago, we had 6 nurses and aides give birth within 2 months. They are all still working with us.

Although it is by no means a standard or a rule, I think you will find that most units are sympathetic (if not downright joyful) when their employees are "in the family way." They may need to reply more on PRN nurses, float nurses, or the other employees may "pick up the slack" and pull some extra shifts while you are on maternity leave.

However, they also know that if you come back and have a good job, you are less likely to leave. After all, you have someone else that you are responsible for.

It may sound cold blooded, I'm just sayin'.

And once again. . . .congratulations!!!!!!! I love babies!!!!!!!!!

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Nov 18, 2007

They can not discriminate against you. They can't not even NOT hire you because you are pregnant, its discrimination. And you are still entitled to maturnity leave. It may not be paid, but by law they have to hold your job for you. (You can get disability payments at this time)

nservice · Nov 18, 2007

Congrats on your pregnancy! I'm also 4 months pregnant, so we will be due at about the same time.

When I was first hired at my current hospital 5 years ago, I was 7 months pregnant with my first child. It was really no big deal. I can tell you that the ladies in HR have never forgotten my name! I guess I sort of stood (poked) out. It was also pretty funny when I was taking my pre-employment physical at employee health. The look on the Doc's face was priceless when he walked in the room. We had a good chuckle when he asked me to bend over an touch my toes. Needless to say, everything worked out fine. I didn't have enough sick time, but was able to take state disability because of my employment history. Not only did they save my job for me, but reserved a day shift slot for me when I came back. They have been loyal to me and I have been loyal in return. Give them a chance and don't go looking for something to worry about. You don't need that stress right now. Keep us updated!!!

Nrs_angie, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2007

Congrats on your pregnancy! I'm also 4 months pregnant, so we will be due at about the same time.
When I was first hired at my current hospital 5 years ago, I was 7 months pregnant with my first child. It was really no big deal. I can tell you that the ladies in HR have never forgotten my name! I guess I sort of stood (poked) out. It was also pretty funny when I was taking my pre-employment physical at employee health. The look on the Doc's face was priceless when he walked in the room. We had a good chuckle when he asked me to bend over an touch my toes. Needless to say, everything worked out fine. I didn't have enough sick time, but was able to take state disability because of my employment history. Not only did they save my job for me, but reserved a day shift slot for me when I came back. They have been loyal to me and I have been loyal in return. Give them a chance and don't go looking for something to worry about. You don't need that stress right now. Keep us updated!!!

Hi there! My due date is May 8... what's yours??

Also, I was curious how do you get "state disability"... I am clueless about this stuff because Ive never had to take any sick leaves or disability ever... how do I go about getting this? is it thru my employer or thru the state?

May is only 5 months away... is there a certain time I have to be there to be able to take a leave? and what happens to my Health Insurance?