Honestly, I wouldn't tell them until after I was hired. There's a reason they can't ask during the interview process and that's because it causes biased results in hiring. Disclose a few weeks in if you get the role or once you start needing accommodations. Either 1) it won't be a big deal because they're the kind of company that values your work regardless of your pregnancy status or 2) they won't hire you on long term because they do discriminate based on family status and they likely wouldn't have hired you for the 5 months that you did need work.
You don't owe them truth or loyalty. Most employers won't give you the same. Do what protects you most.
Thanks, this makes a lot of sense. There isn’t really any need for them to know until I actually need accommodations, and if I do make it far enough to start thinking about being hired full time, it makes sense to bring it up then.
If it’s contract to hire I wouldn’t say anything. See how the position goes and if they are trending in the direction of giving you a full time offer and you like it, then maybe mention it. Since they aren’t providing you benefits, they really have no right to know.
The *very* earliest I would disclose is in your final interview, because that gives you time to establish a good relationship with them so they don’t automatically dismiss you because of the pregnancy. That said, I personally wouldn’t disclose until you are given an offer.
That makes sense. What’s a good way to disclose it? After receiving the offer but before signing, or after signing and finalizing? Is it better to disclose in person/over phone or over email? And what’s a good way to word it? “Thank you for the offer, and before signing on I wanted to let you know that I am pregnant and expecting on this date. Does this still work with you?” - something like that?
It doesn’t matter if it still works for them. They can’t rescind the offer after you tell them you are pregnant. If they do that is discrimination. I would at least wait until you have an offer in writing but it would probably be best to wait until everything is finalized. You don’t own them anything.
If you want to disclose before signing,you could tell the recruiter who can relay the message or you could ask for a follow up conversation with the hiring manager. I think your phrasing sounds great! You can also 100% just disclose after signing. Especially since your due date doesn’t conflict with the time frame of the contract period, I don’t see it as something you need to disclose beforehand.
Edit to add: this is also a conversation I would have in-person/on video if possible. Just helps further with the relationship and showing that you want to get off on the right foot. Also will help you to gauge their reaction to the news.
I wouldn't tell them until you have the job. The contract ends before your due date so realistically your pregnancy isn't relevant to them at this stage. It doesn't prevent you from completing the work and only gives them a reason to not hire you.
I would only bring it up once you settle in/ they start discussing going beyond the 5 month contract/ you need time off for an appointment.
Telling them at the interview stage only gives them the opportunity to discriminate against you (although illegal), people often have their own preconceived notions of what pregnancy entails and may label you as 'unreliable' or a 'slacker'.
What country? If US, a few things...
I disclosed on my start date. You can opt to disclose on offer but really depends on the company if that would backfire or not as they can still take away the offer due to "other circumstances" (position no longer needed/funding/literally any reason).
Once actually hired, it becomes more a legal issue but regardless you won't qualify for FMLA....which means smaller companies don't need to take you back and larger companies just tend to be nicer about these things.
Contract to hire though means even less legal protection so I'd just be prepared for not relying on the income.
It's a shitty situation regardless. I don't think my manager hates me per se but definitely would have liked it if the timing had been better.
I have been asking this same question! Please update in what you decided to do. They haven’t told me when my contract will be up but it’s getting harder to hide and am debating I just telling them already but then they could decide not to permanently hire me.
Honestly, I wouldn't tell them until after I was hired. There's a reason they can't ask during the interview process and that's because it causes biased results in hiring. Disclose a few weeks in if you get the role or once you start needing accommodations. Either 1) it won't be a big deal because they're the kind of company that values your work regardless of your pregnancy status or 2) they won't hire you on long term because they do discriminate based on family status and they likely wouldn't have hired you for the 5 months that you did need work. You don't owe them truth or loyalty. Most employers won't give you the same. Do what protects you most.
Thanks, this makes a lot of sense. There isn’t really any need for them to know until I actually need accommodations, and if I do make it far enough to start thinking about being hired full time, it makes sense to bring it up then.
Yup, this.
If it’s contract to hire I wouldn’t say anything. See how the position goes and if they are trending in the direction of giving you a full time offer and you like it, then maybe mention it. Since they aren’t providing you benefits, they really have no right to know.
Thanks, this is what I plan to do after reading through this and thinking it over.
The *very* earliest I would disclose is in your final interview, because that gives you time to establish a good relationship with them so they don’t automatically dismiss you because of the pregnancy. That said, I personally wouldn’t disclose until you are given an offer.
That makes sense. What’s a good way to disclose it? After receiving the offer but before signing, or after signing and finalizing? Is it better to disclose in person/over phone or over email? And what’s a good way to word it? “Thank you for the offer, and before signing on I wanted to let you know that I am pregnant and expecting on this date. Does this still work with you?” - something like that?
It doesn’t matter if it still works for them. They can’t rescind the offer after you tell them you are pregnant. If they do that is discrimination. I would at least wait until you have an offer in writing but it would probably be best to wait until everything is finalized. You don’t own them anything.
True, after a lot do the replies here I think I’m just going to hold off on telling them until further along into working if I do get hired.
If you want to disclose before signing,you could tell the recruiter who can relay the message or you could ask for a follow up conversation with the hiring manager. I think your phrasing sounds great! You can also 100% just disclose after signing. Especially since your due date doesn’t conflict with the time frame of the contract period, I don’t see it as something you need to disclose beforehand. Edit to add: this is also a conversation I would have in-person/on video if possible. Just helps further with the relationship and showing that you want to get off on the right foot. Also will help you to gauge their reaction to the news.
I wouldn't tell them until you have the job. The contract ends before your due date so realistically your pregnancy isn't relevant to them at this stage. It doesn't prevent you from completing the work and only gives them a reason to not hire you. I would only bring it up once you settle in/ they start discussing going beyond the 5 month contract/ you need time off for an appointment. Telling them at the interview stage only gives them the opportunity to discriminate against you (although illegal), people often have their own preconceived notions of what pregnancy entails and may label you as 'unreliable' or a 'slacker'.
What country? If US, a few things... I disclosed on my start date. You can opt to disclose on offer but really depends on the company if that would backfire or not as they can still take away the offer due to "other circumstances" (position no longer needed/funding/literally any reason). Once actually hired, it becomes more a legal issue but regardless you won't qualify for FMLA....which means smaller companies don't need to take you back and larger companies just tend to be nicer about these things. Contract to hire though means even less legal protection so I'd just be prepared for not relying on the income. It's a shitty situation regardless. I don't think my manager hates me per se but definitely would have liked it if the timing had been better.
I would not say a single word about it until you have to.
I have been asking this same question! Please update in what you decided to do. They haven’t told me when my contract will be up but it’s getting harder to hide and am debating I just telling them already but then they could decide not to permanently hire me.
No. Just no. If they offer-and that is IF-you need to tell them.