Would You Look for a New Position Internally/ Externally When You Are Expecting?

When I had my youngest, I was called for an interview when I was on maternity leave. I accepted the job and gave my two weeks notice my first day back at work. It was the stepping stone to where I am now, and I'm thankful I made the leap.

I am also facing a job change and while long-term it will be good, it's very scary in the short-term. But reward doesn't come without risk.

I would look at all of the positives and negatives and go from there.

i would see what the company could offer internally but would not seek externally till after baby is born and about 6 months old.

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i would see what the company could offer internally but would not seek externally till after baby is born and about 6 months old.

Based on your comp, I would stay until after returning from maternity leave. Getting paid for any weeks, let alone 100% for 12 weeks, in my opinion is a big deal. Many places won't pay anything until you have been there at least a year and sometimes that is only 60% for 6 weeks for normal birth. Taking any other time off is unpaid. If you don't hate the job and don't dread going to work, I would stick it out.

Stay. Scope things out when you come back. Things may have settled to the point where there will be a space that you could fill and enjoy. Don't know if you can keep in touch with anyone or keep your finger/ear on the pulse of what's going on while you're away, but if you can know enough to strategize as you come back, maybe that would be helpful for you (once you've slept for a couple of weeks :)

I agree that staying with your current job is good. Pregnancy iand preparing for a baby is a big change by it's self. I suggest that you need to conserve your energy and focus for that process instead of adding many stressful new tasks.

I, too, suggest not making any changes until after returning from maternity leave. Make life as easy for yourself as you can. consider that the changes are still happening. They will have settled by the time you return. You may like what has happened during those months. If not, you will still have other options.

BTW That is a fantastic maternity leave!

I'd stay. There is no way they will lay you off and risk a clear violation of the law. Your pregnancy actually protects you a bit, although it probably makes you WAY less patient with the BS. It's not a special privilege, since pregnant women were shoved aside for decades. But it's a reality.

I think it's very difficult - still - to go into a new job and present yourself as someone who is going to be there and be dedicated, and then say, "Oh but I'll be away for X weeks." It shouldn't matter - but it does.

If there were something else WITHIN the company, that's another story - you wouldn't lose benefits or seniority. I think it's okay to say to HR or another department, "Look, there's a lot of uncertainty, but that also opens up new possibilities. While other changes are in the works, it might make it a good time for me, and you, to look at ways to strengthen the company."

Lol! I thought this was a sex question!

I've done both. I moved from one school district to another when I was pregnant. I got no maternity leave and went back to work part time about four weeks after an emergency c-section. It was horrible!

After being laid off, I was called back to a new position in a different building about a month before my second was born. Being a teacher, the position didn't start until the week my son was born. I took 6 weeks of maternity leave. It was difficult going back to a new position where I had to learn a whole new program, a whole new staff, and a whole new culture.

A new job within the same district was definitely better than moving to a new district. But I don't think I would want to do it again.

I think I'd wait till after maternity. FMLA only applies if you've been with an employer for over 12 months and they have more than 50 employees, FMLA also only gives you 12 weeks unpaid. NYS statutory disability is only $170 a week for 6 weeks. So unless you find something that's worth giving up 12 weeks paid maternity, which maybe you would, I'd wait it out. But hey can't hurt to look to see what's out there that way you can decide knowing all your options.

I think that if you had to look for a new position while expecting, you could. But, from what you describe, it looks like your company is in the middle of a rearrangement. Given this and your benefits, I think I would hold tight. Things might settle down the next 6 months or so, once the new hires are in place and everyone has adjusted to the new rules.

If they don't, you can look when you come back from your leave.

If you want a job that is an internal move you should look into it, but based on what you described I suspect that new hire salary might be lower than what the old employees were making. Possibly lower than what you make now.

My husband's former place of employment (he left for a new job) was 'consolidating' too. They were letting go of career (20+ year) employees. Instead of calling it 'fired' they 'position reduced' and gave severance packages. Then they made up new titles for the same kind of jobs and hired on new people for half the pay.

Getting rid of 18 people only to turn around and rehire new people sounds like a similar plan, but this may not be the case for your workplace. I think you need to look into it before you can decide.

I guess it depends on how much you like your job. Changes are difficult and it sounds like you have a lot of changes.

I would hold out until after you have the baby and return to work. You have great benefits. Not everyone gets paid for 12 weeks of maternity leave. That in itself would be worth the wait. Plus, if you leave, FMLA will not be an option.

Change can be good. If you feel like your stuck then shaking things up a bit would work. Could also say that if new management is changing things, that would be a change as well.

Not helping, I know but look at the BIG picture what you give up vs. what you gain. Good luck!

my answer might change depending on how much you love what you do, and your job prospects both internally and externally. if you could move fairly easily, get a similar compensation package, and good work-from-home prospects etc, maybe it would be worth moving.
but all things being equal, i think it's not a great time for that degree of upheaval. while things sound stressful at the moment, this job does have quite a few positives.
and job-hunting while expecting is a perilous venture at best.
at the very least i'd stay through delivering your baby and take advantage of the comfy maternity leave. and then i'd give it 6 months on the other side too. that might be enough to get your department through the discomfort of restructuring, and if the new management is really focused on efficiency, maybe it'll end up being mostly good changes.
i'd stay put for now.
khairete
S.

That is a difficult situation. I'm not sure how far along you are - but regardless, 12 weeks is a long time to be out from a brand-new position. I would tread carefully. It sounds like things are pretty unsettled. I would be worried about putting myself in a precarious position. I would want to make sure I got to use that great benefits package. Just thinking about my own job - IF I was dealing with people who knew me well and knew my history and dependability, and they were ok with it, I might switch positions. I would be surprised if you would find anything while you're expecting. It is a bit much to ask strangers to let you start completely over, when they don't know you. If that makes sense. (This is not to get into the "rightness" or "wrongness" of it, just my perspective. If I was expecting, I would not expect a new employer to take a chance on me.) It is not uncommon for women to stay up through their FMLA leave and then give notice when they come back, and there are good reasons for that.

If you get a job with a different employer, you will not have federal job protection. BC the law only requires job protection for medical leave after 12 months of service and a,certain amount of hours worked.

I would stay just for the comp and fmla...with that said, if I were in your shoes, I would consider the intern postings within the copmany

Good luck

I would wait. I have interviewed while heavily pregnant but ultimately decided to wait. Having a baby is a big change both at home and at work. I found myself adjusting after both of my babies were born. I decided to wait on my job change until my baby was a couple of months old. I wanted to reach a point where I felt like I had a handle on my home life again. I didn’t want to be the new guy at work and feeling like my family had to suffer because I had to prove myself at work. Besides it was beneficial to be in a familiar job position when I returned from maternity leave. I could work on autopilot when I had to and those sleep deprived newborn weeks necessitated a lot of autopilot. Also it was good to know I could have a bad day at the office and those around me knew I had just had a baby and that was not my normal job performance. Moreover in the first year there are so many baby doctor visits, it was nice to be with a familiar, tolerant employer. Finally we had to face having a newborn and a toddler in daycare. The results were four months of almost continuous illness for all of us. I was taking time off left and right for one of my kids or myself very regularly. Because I had been with my employer for a while, they were understanding, patient and flexible. I could focus on getting everyone better while squeezing work in as best I could. Overall it was comforting to be with a trusted employer while my family settled into our new normal as a bigger family.

I would definitely wait. You will have time after the baby is born to put your resume together and start looking for a job. If you don't find one, you'll have a job to go back to. If you do, then you can start the new job after your maternity leave is over.

To be honest, the next several months, including your maternity leave, will be a time for people to get used to all the changes, and probably everything will shake itself out by the time you get back.

I was interviewing for a job with a friend of mine years ago. I found out that I was pregnant, and shortly after, the boss told my friend that she had to hire his daughter. I had not disclosed that I had found out that I was pregnant, and I was upset about her offer being rescinded because I wanted to get experience in this particular business. But after going through my pregnancy, I realized that I was SO lucky that I didn't get that job, B.. I had trouble in my pregnancy and my long-time job was very understanding. When I got back to work, I definitely had trouble getting back into the swing of things. I had to make lists for everything! I wondered what was wrong with me that I couldn't remember everything I used to remember. It took a while. I was especially glad that it wasn't with a new job and people who barely knew me.

I also would have hated it if my friend had been unhappy with my work. And what if she would have replaced me? It would have been very stressful on our friendship.

Now, I know that your situation would be different because it won't be your friend, but still, a new job while you're pregnant and right after you have the baby is hard. So if I were you, I'd hang tight until you have had this baby and get your paid time off.

The baby is a couple of weeks old now, right? I think you have some options for sure.

You have a job that is in transition. You have new bosses and there will be new procedures and personalities to deal with. When you go back to work it will be like an entirely new job. I think you could look at it like that and expect everything to be new. A fresh start with your new co-workers.

Attitude can be a good thing and you have a good head on your shoulders. You can do this. Having the little one at home and all the hormonal changes and everything...I think I'd go back and see how it goes. If it's horrible and you can't do the changes then endure a few months and send out resumes to every place that could be a new place you can work. When they want you to come in for an interview you can take a personal day or a couple of vacation days.

Just take your time and find the right job for you. I'm not saying that the current job isn't going to be the right new job. It's changing and it could work out to be an awesome wonderful place to be once everyone that doesn't want to change or that resents not having things the same is gone or moved to another place.

I know a lot of women who stay, take leave, and then jump ship upon returning.

If you think your current job will be too much, look inside, but I'd stay put to enjoy your paid leave.

I have a daycare in my home. I have had 2 new Moms that went back to work after 12 weeks, interviewed while they were off and gave 2 weeks notice that 1st day back. They worked those 2 weeks at the old job and then started with the new position.

M