A woman who recently returned to work from maternity wrote into Moncreiff's Adulting segment looking for advice. 

She holds a “fairly senior” position and her boss is delighted to have her back - having been unimpressed with her maternity leave replacement. 

“What’s more, a few comments have been made about another, more senior role that’s become vacant,” she told Moncreiff. 

“I’ve basically been told that the job is mine; there’s just one problem, I’ve just found out that I’m 11 weeks pregnant.” 

The woman “really wants this promotion” but worries she will not get the job if she tells them she is pregnant. 

“Is it wrong to take the job and tell them I’m pregnant afterwards? This may sour our relationship but let’s be honest, no one will promote a pregnant woman - or will they?” 

A woman having a scan. Picture by: Alamy.com

Barbara Scully had this advice: 

“From what I can ascertain from a legal standpoint, I think you only have to give your employer four weeks' notice of your intention to take maternity leave,” she said. 

“So, you don’t have to tell them - as far as I can work it out. 

“So, it’s up to you basically when you decide to tell them. 

“It is a dilemma and you kind of wonder what’s the best thing to do. 

“If it were me, having given it some thought, I would wait until you are actually offered the job - until you have a firm, ‘Here’s this job, it is yours.’ 

“I would accept the job - as that is clearly what you want - and then tell them that I was also pregnant.”

Legal rights

Ms Scully added the law is on the side of the woman if she is offered the job but then has the offer withdrawn once she tells them she is pregnant. 

“Legally… if you’re offered the job it cannot be withdrawn on the basis you’re pregnant,” she said. 

“[The woman] said, ‘It’ll sour our relationship’ - well, that’s a poor reflection on your manager if it does. 

“You are pregnant, so you don’t have a lot of alternatives; the alternative is to say, ‘I’m not taking the job because I’m pregnant’ - that’s not a viable option either. 

“Get the job offer, accept it and immediately after make him or her aware that you are pregnant. 

“As for the comment at the end, ‘No one will promote a pregnant woman’ - I really hope that’s not the case.”

Main image: A woman holding her pregnant belly. Picture by: Tetra Images, LLC / Alamy