Pregnancy & a new job - no maternity leave?

Quagga · 05-24-2005, 02:14 PM

Hi... I hope anyone can offer some advice..

I am in a terrible dilema.. I have just recently moved to Australia from South Africa & I am busy looking for a job.. I just found out a week ago that I am pregnant! I was not trying to fall pregnant right now, I was told I would need fertility treatment. I had blood tests done about 2 months ago and i was not even ovulating! we have not been using any contraception for about 2 years, thought there was not point since i had PCOS...

I don't have a job right now & even if I get a job offer (hopefully soon), do I tell the employer that that I am pregnant? I know that it's illegal to discriminate on the grounds of pregancy, but they might still be quite pissed off!

And so let's say I get a job, what happens in 7 months' time when i need to go off on materninty leave? i was doing some reading, and it seems that you are entitled to unpaid maternity leave only after working for an employer for 12 months. So then does that mean they can simply dismiss me, becuase in my case i would not have worked there for 12 months?

I really don't know what to do!!!!!!!!! I have been crying non-stop since i found out, because i so badly want to keep the baby, but if i don't have a job and/or it's going to be a problem in the job, I can't keep the baby & will have to have a termination... this is really a terrible decision to have to make... if i got pregnant in a year's time, it would not be a problem, just the timing right now could not possibly be worse!

Anyone can offer any thoughts/advice?

Roobie · 05-25-2005, 02:35 AM

Hi. Welcome to Aus, good luck with your job hunting & congratulations on your pregnancy. Although it wasn't planned, I hope your child will bring you happiness that far outweighs the dilemma you face at the moment.

The few suggestions I have might depend on the type of work you are looking for, or your length of stay in Australia.

There might be more opportunities in part time or casual jobs re being pregnant. You could check if you would be eligible for unpaid leave instead of maternity leave, this would depend on the State or Federal Award for wages & conditions in your field.

Centrelink (social security) does have a small payment called "special benefit" but you would need to check with them for eligibility, & waiting period for new residents. http://www.centrelink.gov.au

There might be a charitable organisation that can offer you support/suggestions until you get things sorted out? Our larger ones include Salvation Army, The Smith Family, Red Cross. Hopefully you will find work with a sympathetic employer first.
Others here may have better suggestions?
Quagga, wish you heaps of luck.

sarahr · 06-09-2005, 03:14 AM

If I were you, I would keep looking for a job and don't mention that you're pg. If you get the job, wait until you're at least 12 weeks (longer if you're not showing) before you tell them. Tell them you've only just found out! By that time they'll know you're worth keeping and will probably be willing to negotiate leave and/or part time work. It will also mean you have 7 months earning money, so you'll be able to start saving. You may be eligible for the $3000 maternity payment on your visa... I know that I am eligible on a spouse entry visa. Don't forget you may have a m/c in the meantime... I know that's not what you want to think about, but it's always a possiblity. Good luck!

Sarah

MonkeyBumPink · 06-09-2005, 04:29 AM

Hello and welcome to OZ..

I would do as the above psoter has mentioned. Dont mention it to them at all and hopfully they will let you come back!

I didnt tell the bosses at my work I was pregnant and I was 26 weeks when I went throught the interview process. I told them when I was 28 weeks. Granted I was a casual so had NO maternity rights at all, I had 4 months off and am now working there again.

Good luck. You can still work for 8 months or so if you want, and by then you can prove that youre reliable enough to re-hire after you've had bubs

Nikita · 06-09-2005, 09:52 AM

At my workplace we had about the same thing happen to a girl. She had been working here for like a couple weeks and found out she was pregnant, she didnt have any leave to take either so seh had her baby on a monday and came back the following monday. She only took a week off after the baby was born. hope this helps.

sarahr · 06-14-2005, 09:46 AM

Quagga, give us an update when you get a chance!

Sarah