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Got a job and pregnant
I was just offered a teaching position today and I'm really excited about it. The only thing is that I am pregnant and did not mention it in the interview. I am due Nov. 1. Any suggestions on how I should go about bringing this subject up with the Principal? I'm just a little nervous about it. Thank you!
Re: Got a job and pregnant
Your best bet: mention it immediately. I don't know what kind of hole that might leave your class in, your school in or your district in.
Yikes. Tell them soon. You are a little more than 6 months pregnant...that's a little wrong for you not to mention that. If you were 6 weeks or a couple of months pregnant, that'd be different.
Go to the principal ASAP and let them know so they can make the proper arrangements.
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LittleL 8/10/07
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I disagree with everyone else. At 6 months they likely noticed, but chose not to make it part of the inerview, which is fine IMO. It's not like you're the first person hired who's out of her first trimester of pregnancy.
I would call the Principal ASAP and say you are really excited about the position, but you are pregnant and due Nov 1. Explain that you know you aren't covered under FMLA but want to return back to work as soon as you are physically able and want to discuss plans to make that happen.
GL
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
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Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
At least around here, teachers can be interviewed in April and not get called for a position till August. It's possible that the OP interviewed when she was in her first trimester and wouldn't have mentioned it then.
OP, you need to be very forthcoming with your principal and tell him/her that you're due 11/1 at the earliest possible opportunity. You also should find out at that point what you'll need to do for your long-term sub -- in some places, you have to write all the lesson plans for the time you'll be out, so you'll want that done well in advance.
You should also find someone who can help you understand what options you have for time off. In my district, we can take 6-8 weeks of sick time for having a baby, but only if you have that much time accumulated. As a first-year teacher in my district, you will have 12 days on November 1. That's it. And, you would not be eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act because you haven't been working there long enough. Which then means that, if you wanted more than those 12 days, they would be an unpaid leave. In my district, a first-year teacher can only have up to 10 days unpaid. We had a first-year teacher last year who had a baby and was only out for 22 school days.
If you have a union, please find a union rep to help you with this. They will be the most knowledgeable. It is my experience (and I have a LOT of experience with this) that the principals and/or HR director do no have as much knowledge as the union regarding what options you have.
Thanks for all of the information ladies! I am going to sign the contract today but I am going to talk to them first and let them know the situation before I do. I am showing so they may have noticed in the interview although I did go right in and sit at a table so they may not have, I didn't necessarily hide it I just didn't want to bring it up because I wanted them to see my qualifications not just think of the fact that I'm pregnant, but I am definitely going to tell them before I officially accept. Those are good points about the FMLA. I assumed I would qualify for 6 weeks, although one of those weeks is Thanksgiving so it would be a bit shorter. So thank you for the heads up.
I am going to talk to a union rep I know as well. I hate starting a new job this way, but this pregnancy was a bit of a surprise and I need to work, so I'm just going to try and be as up front as possible. Thanks!
Agree with this. You did not need to tell them at the interview, that's a quick way to get an instant rejection (unfortunate but true). But, you do need to tell them before formally accepting so that you can be confident your maternity leave plans will be acceptable to them.
DS1 born June 2008 | m/c at 9w March 2011 | DS2 born April 2012
All of this, plus what Dr. L said.
Honestly, I wouldn't hold your breath and expect a 6 week leave......you'll have only been there about 60 days by the time you'll be wanting leave, and you very likely won't even be eligible for short term disability. Start thinking now about how much time you're willing to settle for, and have a plan for what happens if what they offer isn't enough for you. Realistically, you might be looking at a 2 or 3 week leave.
DS1 born June 2008 | m/c at 9w March 2011 | DS2 born April 2012
I don't disagree that 6 weeks is typically a reasonable amount of time...I'd even argue that it's at the very low end of reasonable.
But for an employee of 60 days to ask for a 6 week leave........no, I don't think it's entirely reasonable. She could very well still be in her probationary period. And I think it would be an even harder sell for a brand new teacher at the beginning of the school year.
The recovery and childcare issues honestly aren't the employer's concern. I don't say that to be yucky or nasty or anti-women, just stating a fact. She will be a brand new employee who will almost gauranteed by ineligible for STD, definitely ineligible for FMLA, and who will have very little PTO by the time she needs to be off work. Her boss (principal, superintendent, whoever) has very little incentive to hold her job open for 6 weeks........they won't be obligated to, and she won't have had time to prove herself or her work yet.
I'm just trying to bring a realistic perspective to the OP - hopefully they decide she's worth it and hold her job for at least 6 weeks, but she needs to realize that they might not do that.
In my district, teachers can take up to 8 weeks UNPAID, even if they are brand new. They can take whatever time they have banked paid and after that, it's out of their own pocket.
We've had several instances where brand new teachers took maternity leave their first year.. it happens. Just be honest when signing your contract and hopefully it all works out.
GL!