TTC and job promotion

[ST4C3]

Hi everyone,

I was looking for some advice from some other ladies who may of been in the same situation.

I work for a big telecoms company in the UK and have for 5 years, in September this year I got a promotion to a Manager (lucky this is a Product Manager so I'm managing a product rather than a team of people).. It is within the same company, it's more than double the money I was previously on. It's classed as more of a contract change than a 'new job' as it's within the same company, so I haven't been issued a P45 or anything because I never stopped working there and re-joined I was just promoted.

The situation is that last year me and my partner was TTC until i had a back injury so we stopped and was going to try in August but I got an interview for a promotion I'd applied for back in June (I'd assumed I wasn't going to hear back but I did suprisingly) I got the job straight away and started in September. We are really eager to start trying again as I am 27 now and it would be our first. The maternity scheme is brilliant and it goes off how long you have continuously worked for the company including contract changes so that'd be 5yrs. The worry is it's a new role and we was going to put off and start in May/June so that's 9 months in to my new role. It's difficult waiting but does anybody have any similar situations? I'm worried that even if we start trying in May and eventually I fall pregnant that it won't look good as I've started a new role.

Any advice is welcomed

Thank you x

 

[hoping12]

My advice is to go for it. Your work have to support it as its your right. You wouldn't want to leave it and then have issues adding to further delay. It's hard tho- I got a promotion when I was 6 months pregnant with my first. But since is worked for 6 years the school knew I was worth waiting for. Sure ur business will be the same. Good luck x

 

[LyndseyB]

I wouldn't wait if I were you, I was in a similar position in June this year I got a promotion I had been waiting a while for, I knew then that I'd start ttc the next month and I did fall pregnant very quickly, I unfortunately had a miscarriage which my work now know about (they didn't until after) and are very sympathetic and supportive about, they now know that I plan to get pregnant and have mat leave ASAP and are very supportive..that's directly from the person who would have the difficulty of finding someone else to look after an 8 year project in the middle of it xx

 

[ST4C3]

Morning Ladies

Thank you for your posts they've made me feel a bit more at ease. I don't think you can ever plan for a 'right' time to have a baby because time passes us by so fast and there is always something new and a reason to 'wait' when in reality that's just what life is all about. It may not happen straight away it could take a while as you said Hoping12, I'd love to start prior to May/June, the timing of when the baby is born doesn't matter, it was just the fact I've only been doing my new job for 4 months. Although I'd still have 9 months to wait as well so I'll of been doing the job over a year (if I got caught relatively quickly). Another good thing is that I work from my office at home and only travel once every 3 months for the day, I also work on flexitime being a Manager so that's a plus. I intend to go back full time after maternity.

Sorry to hear about your miscarriage Lyndsey good luck for your TTC journey

Thank you again xx

 

[PrincessPeanut]

After TTC for 4 years and suffering a MC 10 weeks ago, I am a great believer in you can't 'plan to TTC'. Life is too short to think about the 'what if's', you just got to go with it.
If your company doesn't support you if you'd become pregnant, than they're hardly going to be supportive when you have a small child and often have to be flexible with working (late in, early out, calls in the middle of the day from school etc.) so it's better to know sooner rather than later and find a better company to work for. Family comes first after all.


PP xXx

 

[ST4C3]

Hey PP,

I really feel for you that's so awful. I agree hats my philosophy life is too short. The company I work for are really good they have an entire website dedicated to Maternity leave and have a Women's Network promoting Maternity and women's rights etc and flexible working. It was more my new manager that I didn't want him to think I wasn't committed but there's only so long you can keep putting it off for when you want it a lot. Family definitely comes first. My brother has a little boy and he spends a lot of time with me and it makes you realise how much you'd love a child of your own.

Thanks PP xx

 

[PrincessPeanut]

Being pregnant and going on maternity leave doesn't make you any less committed.
In fact in some cases it can push you to work harder to prove yourself.

Best of luck in your job and TTC journey


PP xXx

 

[ST4C3]

Thanks PP, hopefully he'll think the same way.

Have a great Christmas to you and your family.

Stace xx

 

[mrs_z]

Just wanted to repeat what everyone else has been saying. Please don't feel guilty - these things are impossible to plan, and it might take you longer to conceive than you expect. I got pregnant the month my promotion kicked in and was initially worried, but my line manager took it really well.

You'll get an allowance of days to work while you're on mat leave - if you're worried about what they'll think, perhaps already plan a little how you might want to use these to let them know you're committed to your job.

 

[ST4C3]

Hi Mrs Z,

Thank you for your experience of this, I think the most daunting part would be telling my manager I'm pregnant when I eventually get to that point. I wasn't aware of allowance days? I'll have to read up on those. x

 

[russellmuscle]

I wouldnt put my family status on hold for any job. Thats why they have Mat packages and should have backup cover areanged. You cant be expected to put your life on hold or explain anything to someone you work for.

I started my new role in May. I suffered a surprise pregnancy and subsequent MC in September. Which I didnt declare in he interview because these things happen? We decided to TTC afer he MC again wasnt prior planned. I will be nervous when I do need to inform, but only because my manager knows about my MC. Not really because Ill be going on Mat leave.

Someone I worked with who didnt actually meet was off so long we stopped paying her. We pay full pay 6m half pay 6m. She was earning money on the side too which management knew about. If people can do that Ill be having 9m mat leave please?

xxx

 

[ST4C3]

I wouldnt put my family status on hold for any job. Thats why they have Mat packages and should have backup cover areanged. You cant be expected to put your life on hold or explain anything to someone you work for.

I started my new role in May. I suffered a surprise pregnancy and subsequent MC in September. Which I didnt declare in he interview because these things happen? We decided to TTC afer he MC again wasnt prior planned. I will be nervous when I do need to inform, but only because my manager knows about my MC. Not really because Ill be going on Mat leave.

Someone I worked with who didnt actually meet was off so long we stopped paying her. We pay full pay 6m half pay 6m. She was earning money on the side too which management knew about. If people can do that Ill be having 9m mat leave please?

xxx

That's what I keep thinking to myself, on theory I don't have to explain anything other than I'm pregnant. They should sort the rest out. I have put it on hold for a few years and I am now getting to the point where I'm 28 next year and I'd like to have more than one eventually so time is of the essence really.

My work package is 5 months full pay and 5 months half pay so slightly similar to yours. I am a manager myself and I work from home so I am guessing it won't be too much of an issue to find cover as my other two colleagues was covering my role for 6 months before I joined the team. 9m mat leave sounds nice lol.

Thank you xx

 

[russellmuscle]

I wouldnt put my family status on hold for any job. Thats why they have Mat packages and should have backup cover areanged. You cant be expected to put your life on hold or explain anything to someone you work for.

I started my new role in May. I suffered a surprise pregnancy and subsequent MC in September. Which I didnt declare in he interview because these things happen? We decided to TTC afer he MC again wasnt prior planned. I will be nervous when I do need to inform, but only because my manager knows about my MC. Not really because Ill be going on Mat leave.

Someone I worked with who didnt actually meet was off so long we stopped paying her. We pay full pay 6m half pay 6m. She was earning money on the side too which management knew about. If people can do that Ill be having 9m mat leave please?

xxx

That's what I keep thinking to myself, on theory I don't have to explain anything other than I'm pregnant. They should sort the rest out. I have put it on hold for a few years and I am now getting to the point where I'm 28 next year and I'd like to have more than one eventually so time is of the essence really.

My work package is 5 months full pay and 5 months half pay so slightly similar to yours. I am a manager myself and I work from home so I am guessing it won't be too much of an issue to find cover as my other two colleagues was covering my role for 6 months before I joined the team. 9m mat leave sounds nice lol.

Thank you xx

Your welcome!

Yeah they dont know in which circumstances you fell pregnant. Could be planned, could be a total shock to you! They dunno. So to judge or give someone a row for a personal thing is discrimination. They as a company should have backup should people go on such things like long term sick or MAT.

After writing this to you, I have been moved posts - the girl who was off sick for 1 year has resigned and Ive to move into her post. As it stands her post has been empty for over a year. Meanwhile I am TTC atm, but no choice but to go - if in a few months I need to tell them I'm pregnant then so be it. They are not entitled to know my personal business. The posts are set up with cover arrangements, so its a given that if I take my right to bear a child, there will be cover for it. TTC can take 1 cycle or lots for some, so you have no idea when you fall pregnant when you will need to break the news etc.

Managers sometimes have personal grudges and some are secretly annoyed. Who cares, its your life and I doubt your manager would be worrying if it were roles reversed.

I once had my buddy tell me not to take the year off of work, made out it was the best for me.. then ended up when her daughter had her grand child she went off "sick" for 3 months. I quickly learned to make my own decisions like that.

Good luck TTC!

xxxx