OT - New job & pregnancy

Curlykat · 10-26-2006, 02:22 PM

I just wanted to get another opinion on an issue I'm (potentially) facing, so hope y'all can help me out!!

DH and I are trying to get pregnant, but an opportunity has arisen in which I have a VERY good chance at getting a new job which is 3 minutes down the road (rather than a 45-minute commute) and pays $3 more per hour.

In Ontario, a woman has to work for her employer for 13 weeks to be able to get maternity benefits, so I'd definitely be able to get in my 13 weeks (considering I'm not even pregnant yet!!).

Now here is the dilemma: would you take a job, knowing full well you're planning to leave for a whole year, next year, if everything goes according to plan?? The new job would be at a small dental office, so it isn't the kind of place where people come and go all the time.

Sigh. Advice needed. Knitters - weigh in, please!!

ebrperk · 10-26-2006, 07:28 PM

I would say if you only have to work there 13 weeks to get maternity benefits go for it. If you are only a few minutes away from home maybe you could work part time if you wanted and still go home to see the baby at lunch or something like that.

brendajos · 10-26-2006, 07:28 PM

I would say take the job. You have no real idea how long it will take you to get pregnant and it would stink to lose out on that opportunity if it takes you some time to get pregnant.

I am probably the HR person's least favorite person for making that kind of suggestion but seriously....if you got pregnant "accidentally" it would reeeeeeeally be a different situation for them.

Curlykat · 10-26-2006, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by brendajos

I would say take the job. You have no real idea how long it will take you to get pregnant and it would stink to lose out on that opportunity if it takes you some time to get pregnant.

This is what DH says, but I guess I just would feel bad for this poor little dentist, who thinks he's hiring someone to be a good employee and then all of a sudden, I take off for a year!!!

cookworm · 10-26-2006, 07:33 PM

Just my humble opinion

but I'd say go for the new job. If it's much closer to home and it pays more, why not? If you're planning on working through the pregnancy, you will appreciate that shorter commute greatly as you get farther along and you're tired at the end of the day (I had a 2 hour commute each way when I was pregnant the first time...it's no picnic!). It's true that you're looking to leave not so long in the future if things go according to your plan, but think about the fact that the same thing could happen if you took this job and you and your husband maybe weren't planning for a pregnancy (maybe a little "surprise" happened), and you'd have to leave in that circumstance, too? I'm all for trying to be fair to an employer, but you also have to consider what will work best for you and your family, too. Plus, if you're considering maybe going back to work and they would hold the job for you, it will be nice being so close to home. Just my humble opinion, though. Good luck!

Quiara · 10-26-2006, 07:49 PM

I agree with everyone else. It really just makes good sense. Plus, $3 more/hr = MORE YARN MONEY. How can you say no?

Curlykat · 10-26-2006, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Quiara

I agree with everyone else. It really just makes good sense. Plus, $3 more/hr = MORE YARN MONEY. How can you say no?

Oooh, you bad, bad person, you! I just sorted out my meager stash and have realized that I have inherited, through various places/people, a really crappy bunch of acrylic. Need more, and better, yarn!!!!

brendajos · 10-26-2006, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Curlykat

Originally Posted by Quiara

I agree with everyone else. It really just makes good sense. Plus, $3 more/hr = MORE YARN MONEY. How can you say no?

Oooh, you bad, bad person, you! I just sorted out my meager stash and have realized that I have inherited, through various places/people, a really crappy bunch of acrylic. Need more, and better, yarn!!!!

okay that just sent me into a fit of giggles...

Quiara · 10-26-2006, 08:40 PM

I'll just sit here quietly and pet the mmmmmmalabrigo I got in the mail today. *pet pet* Not that I'm trying to tempt you or anything . . . Not me. Nope. *petpet*

janelanespaintbrush · 10-26-2006, 08:49 PM

Maybe I'm a weirdo, but I personally would have some qualms about it. I don't think he can legally ask you about that sort of thing, but I would want to be up-front about my future availability anyway. For all you know, he may appreciate your honesty so much that it works in your favor. (Who doesn't want an employee with that quality?) Then again, that might blow it right there. But you know, that's just me, and it's easy for me to say that when I'm not close to the situation. I can't help but think that if I were the employer, I'd feel frustrated (even deceived), if my employee had to leave after a short time, especially if I found out later that it wasn't an "accident."