What Would you Do?

[juniper]

I agree with everyone here - go for it! It's your life and you deserve happiness. In terms of the labour laws, I think you have to work for a company for thirteen months and then they are obliged to give you 4 months paid maternity leave, before that it's unpaid or half-pay depending on their policies, but different companies offer different things.

[Mash]

Hi Juniper

No company is ever obliged to give paid maternity leave, it's actually quite rare. They assume that you will claim UIF.

Sharon,

Thanks for your comment, it really has come at a time that I'm questioning everything...

[Ally123]

Bratty,

Dont feel bad at all! I missed a chance at a different job as I was so afraid that I might fall PG in that switch over time and then the medical aid would not pay. I now know that I will not get PG without assitance but the job is no longer available.

Anyway hows this? A staff member here starts work and is 2 months gone. She gets 4 months at 33% pay and can claim balance from UIF. She arrives back from maternity leave 2 months PG again!!!! She will work a few months and then get same benefits again.

[Alchemist]

I agree with everyone...go for it Bratts.

I was thinking of changing jobs (as i am totally bored and in a no career position) but i really like the ppl i work with and its totally stress free (which i need right now). I feel comfortable coming in late for appointments with FS etc. as my boss knows what is going on. BUT i would love to change and get a more exciting position...... i wouldnt NOT move due to issues like falling pregnant at a new job etc. its not like it is something you are in control of and you arent doing anything underhand.

Ally - someone should take your work colleague into the bathroom and show her a condom and how to use it

[Natashja]

Hi Bratty

This is what happened to me last year. We transferred end Oct, beginning Dec I was offered the position I am in and at the interview I did not disclose the pregnancy. I informed them end February the following year. Legally I did nothing wrong and my employer was amazingly supportive. But then again, it helped that I did not take 4 months maternity leave. But on the other hand it might have gone the other way - there was a risk they could frown on a surropregnancy. Our policy here is that you do not get paid maternity leave if you have been employed here for less than a year. I had to take unpaid leave, but then again it was not the end of the world.

Go for it, they can't discriminate based on pregnancy although if you disclose the pregnancy at the interview they might not offer you the job for other reasons - not based on pregnancy - better candidate whatever.

When I was asked why I did not disclose it as I would have been employed anyway (ja right, like there was any guarantee) I just said that I was in the first trimester and anything could still have gone wrong and I did not feel comfortable. No harm done, everything worked out well!

[Bratty1972]

Thanks everyone...CV is out there....now just waiting for that perfect fantastic job...that pays for my maternity leave

I must say..I feel alot calmer at work. Even now, my Bosses rant and rave..and I think "yaaaahhh...caaarrryyy on...I will be gone soon and your punching bag wont be around. You, arsholes, are going to miss me"

What a fantastic feeling?

[Alchemist]

Bratts, there is no better time than feb - march to find a job, ppl are looking for new ppl for the coming year

GL, post your CV on pnet and career juntion and just make sure you put a nice covering letter describing what a fantastic person you are (seperate you from the rest of the blah blah CVs out there)