you the position I don't think they can take it back just because you are pregnant. That is grounds to sue..but yea..it's a good question, I'd be interested to see the responses.

I say just tell them when you go into sign the offer?

Oh man...that is awkward.

"He grew up in my heart, not my belly"

Not sure about the labor laws where you live, but where I am an employee has a 90 day probationary period, where the employer could fire the employee for anything, and not need justification. If they don't like your hair or the smell of your perfume, they can terminate your employment, no questions asked, no repercussions.

I've worked in HR forever- here's the scoop

#1- you need to tell them. Your new employer feel cheated and lied to if you don't, not setting the new relationship up for success. You'd tell them if you had a big vacation planned and needed time off, right? Same deal here. At 12 weeks, it's reasonable that you didn't know and didn't tell them- at 24 weeks they'd feel you were hiding it and will question what else you may be hiding, whether you are or not.

#2- the law protects you- the pregnancy discriminination act is real and it's a federal law. Employers can't make hiring decisions based on pregnancy, just like race, age, gender, etc. Employers know this and will act accordingly. Most employers are employers at will and can fire you with no reason, but you still can't fire someone because of a protected class issue, like pregnancy.

#3- Think beyond the pregnancy. After you deliver you'll need maternity leave, time off for dr appts and sick kid/daycare issues, etc. You'll want an employer that will be supportive, right? You need to make sure you've found a company that will do the right stuff now and in the future. Depending on their reaction it may or may not be the best fit for you either.

Hope that helps. PM me if you have more questions.

not saying you were hiding it but you can never assume. Remember, you never even suggest a woman is expecting unless you see the baby crowning, right?

Just be honest and do what's best for you.

In my experience, telling them now could cost you the job. Once you have the job, see how your boss is. Then, depending on how you feel, discuss it with your boss. You are not required at all to reveal any medical conditions, and pregnancy is just that. My step daughter lost two job offers because she told them she was pregnant - the offers were rescinded. A friend of mine also lost a job opportunity because she told them she was pregnant. The women I know view that as private information that does not belong in an interview, or really as part of the job discussion whatsoever. As a hiring manager, I understand this, and have hired women who have later let me know. Experience with other hiring managers make me understand this reluctance.

I understand littlgrlz4 position, but in my experience, it doesn't help. Also - asking about maternity leave doesn't mean you are pregnant - and they don't (again) need to know until you are ready to discuss. Maternity leave is usually some form of short term disability, or there is also the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) - men can get fatherhood time off under this, as well as women getting leave for having a baby. No one asks them if they are pregnant. As part of the interview process it is entirely appropriate to determine what sort of medical/leave package they offer, and again does not require that you "admit" to being pregnant. This is not hiding stuff, it is not lieing. It is simply a part of your personal life that is inappropriate to discuss at an interview or during a job selection process.

professional with several Fortune 500s on my resume (both as my direct employer and as my clients) I can go either way on this. I am not an HR professional but have always worked very closely with HR because they are a critical Management resource as well as a valuable employee resource.

If the company did not ask, you are not obligated to volunteer the information. However, LGX4 is right. Not telling could reduce their trust in you and start your tenure with them off on the wrong foot.

I am big proponent of employer/employee loyalty but as my career has progressed I have developed the perspective that if employers can terminate an employee due to "business needs" then employers should expect that employees will make decisions in their own best interests which includes going where the opportunities are best, limiting information sharing that is not legally required, etc......

My own management philosophy is that I expect my employees to be as loyal as their financial condition will allow and as loyal as my ability to provide them with opportunies warrants. For performers I will do whatever is in my authority to provide them with opportunity.

I have only resigned from three employers. One to return to school in a different state, one when I graduated from Engineering school because that company could not afford me any longer and a third because I got an offer that I could not refuse from a company that I had been networking to join for years. My average tenure with the companies I have worked for is ~5 years with one over 10 years (I got caught in the downsizing when the Semiconductor industry tanked) so I pride myself in being a long term performer for my employers.

So, I am on the fence on this one and recommend that you act as your own ethical perspective guides you. Or you can just listen to LGX4's advice. When you get free advice from a pro you might as well take it.

LGX4,

How do I successfully negotiate a 300% increase in my salary and move straight from my current position in the Lower third of Upper Management to the CEO's office?

Best regards,

Success is rarely final. Failure is rarely fatal. It is courage and consistency of effort that count. Vince Lombardi (with some minor Rags modifications)

I believe in full disclosure. As a manager I would want to know that someone I hired was pregnant...not to mention you will be having your baby in as little as 3 to 3.5 months - that's barely enough time to get comfortable in the job before you'll be taking several weeks off.

I completely 100% agree with lgx4. Not telling them would be setting up the relationship for failure and would cause them to question what else you could be hiding. Not a good way to start off with a company.

*~So sayeth Nymh~*

But it has been a better start of course! If u had not informed them the fact it would have been unethical. But now they know and still want to hire you. It means you are perfectly qualified for that job and they don’t want to lose you. Moreover, this disclosure has made u more trustworthy to the management which is good for your career. So…..It’s been good for u as well as for your little man!!Free Classifieds