“I have recently discovered I am pregnant and at the same time, I am also applying for a new job. I don’t know when to tell my future employers I am having a baby and worry that if I do tell them, I won’t get the job. What should I do?”

The above question was posed in an advice column in the Fairfax media yesterday. I’ve posted the response from Dr Kirsten Ferguson and below that, I have posted mine.

“First things first, if you have already excitedly shared the news on your public-facing socials, you are best to ’fess up early. Your bun is already well and truly out of the oven, so to speak. However, if it is early days and very few people know, then you should feel free to keep the news to yourself until you are feeling comfortable to share more.

Once your pregnancy is progressing well, the morning sickness has hopefully passed and as the Superwoman you are, you are offered the new job, you might like to let a potential employer know then. Perhaps even channel New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who, just three months after her election announced she would be joining the many parents who wear two hats. She also reminded everyone that she is hardly the first woman to multitask. A perfect response and frankly, all that needs to be said.”

My response:

First of all, get the job.

Sign the employment contract.

Forget the Superwoman stuff.

Checkout the employers maternity leave policy and then the Fair Work Act on discrimination.

Checkout the employer’s termination policy re non-disclosure. Oddly, the people you have to worry about are senior female HR types.

Check out this from Smart Company: https://www.smartcompany.com.au/business-advice/legal/pregnant-unfair-dismissal/

Then – and only then – tell your employer.

Generally speaking, ‘most’ employers understand. The reason they exist is because a woman gave birth to them. This is often forgotten when they have to hire someone to fill your place for a while.