8 months pregant starting new job

[Guest393655]

I am a 2008 grad and could not find work until May 2009 and it was in a nursing home. I got pregnant and now at 27 weeks I got a call from my 1st choice hospital and was hired on the spot for an ICU position. I am so excited, however stressing because I am carrying small and the recruiter and unit manager did not even notice I am 7 months along. I know with the competition out there if I said something they would find some other reason to go with another candidate so I said nothing. I plan to tell HR about the pregnancy after I sign my official hire paperwork.

I am due to start orientation 2/4/10 and by then I will be 31 weeks. I know they can't discriminate but by then I will of had to quit my nursing home job and be COBRAing benefits. We can't afford to do that for long. I am afraid this hosiptal will tell me they have to wait to hire me and then I will be unemployed until some other RN position opens up, or that they will let me go because I am due 4/4/10 and will have only worked there 8 weeks or so before I ask for time off. Orientation/classroom training is 6 weeks so by my due date I will still be in training but out working with a preceptor RN. I don't even want to think about what will happen if the baby comes early while I am in class.

Can they legally fire me for taking off so soon? It is a government and union position so do you think they will then grant me a few weeks non-paid time off in fear of a discrimination suit? I also feel so guilty like I lied to the unit manager and HR by not saying anything and don't want to start out on the wrong foot making anyone angry. I am freaking out about this because I want this job so badly but also want time to recover from delivery and bond with my son (1st baby).

Sorry about the typo in heading. website won't let me go back and edit my spelling error in the title.

[FLmomof5]

Although I was in engineering at the time, I interviewed for and was hired for a position when I was in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. I DID NOT tell anyone I was pregnant until after I was hired! Once hired there is little that they can do about it. I worked until the day I went into labor. This was my 4th child. I took 2 weeks off and went back to work.

I am healthy and a previous athlete. I had no problems going back after 2 weeks. (for my 5th, I went back after 1 week!) This is a 'depends on what you are capable of' situation....but, I would go back as soon as I felt I could handle it.

They cannot discriminate and they won't retaliate (about you not saying anything) because they would never want to jeopardize their position in a lawsuit. That being said....I did have extensive experience in the field when I did this. Remember....although the FMLA law may not protect you for a protracted leave, the ADA(American's with Disability Act) will.

You will have to review the orientation agreement....it may stipulate a date you can't meet that could bite you in the tushy.

Good luck anyway!

[EDRN-2010]

When I was pregnant with my oldest child and employeed in MA, I worked for a company for 4 months and did not qualify for the federally mandated FMLA BUT did qualify for the state mandated leave which states that any female employee who has worked for a company for at least 3 months can take 6 to 8 weeks off to give birth or adopt. http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/149-105d.htm

Maybe your state has laws above and beyond the FMLA like MA does.

And here is a good read that the Mass.gov site links to:

http://www.hhlaw.com/files/Publication/e504c006-da23-4fa0-b73d-7a9980b79b91/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/3cce9c29-ee5a-4e3d-855f-af967ca35093/855_What%20to%20Expect%20--%20Final%20_2_.pdf

One year of employment with the current employer is an absolute requirement for FMLA. The policies of the state and the employer do not matter. See the following for FMLA requirements:

http://fmlaonline.com/

[Quidam]

I am a 2008 grad and could not find work until May 2009 and it was in a nursing home. I got pregnant and now at 27 weeks I got a call from my 1st choice hospital and was hired on the spot for an ICU position. I am so excited, however stressing because I am carrying small and the recruiter and unit manager did not even notice I am 7 months along.

I read your post and all the replies...and what I keep thinking is that you did not hide the fact that you are pregnant. Who knows...maybe they did notice. Either way you were offered a position. You should have a preemployment physical and I would think this would come to light then and you could just say how awesome it was that you were hired and you are so glad that being pregnant did not get in the way of the offer. You are being open and honest and unless they came up with a valid reason to rescind the offer, then no one can say anything except begin to work on scheduling your time off.

[sweetiepeas]

I think I would call them and say I am excited to be offered a job but I wanted to make sure that you knew I was pregnant, I am 7 months so I assumed that you would have noticed but thought I'd better check. I am planning to take # weeks off and I hope this doesn't cause a delay in hiring me. Something to that effect.

I got hired at a bank for a transportation position when I was 7 months, He knew I was pregnant and was only taking 5 weeks off. I think if they liked you enough to hire you then they will still want you and if not then it is their loss. I know easier said than done right?

Good luck!

[Guest393655]

First of all I do not expect the hospital to PAY me for time off, I just want to know if I can take a few weeks to recover from labor and delivery. Second of all I got a job in a nursing home after graduation and have been working there over a year. I put my job search on hold and decided to start a family since I am 37 and put it on hold long enough going to school and waiting to get established in my new job. Out of the blue I was called for an interview from a resume I sent a year ago. I went figuring I had nothing to lose and was hired. By the way I told them I was pregnant when they called to offer the job and they don't care. All I asked was if I could take off to have a baby.

[Scrubby]

Congratulations on the job and baby.

If you've told them and they don't care well sounds like a win win situation to me.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

If they don't care that you are pregnant, it sounds like having time off shouldn't be a problem. They probably assume that you will be taking off 6-8 weeks off then. Congrats on the new job!