Contractor - unexpectantly pregnant

[northernladuk]

Thanks for all the advise!!

Well things escalated today and my boss said he needed to move me off day rate to FTE ASAP as they couldn’t justify keeping my day rate against a stopped project but could offer me a full time position in the department. A bit strange but it is what it is.
Anyway I was stuck...we sat down and I said yes I would like to keep working ‘for you and the company’ - he talked benefits and I talked base salary. He thinks he can have final paperwork done and dusted in 2-3 weeks which at that point I’ll be 12-13 weeks.
I will loose the job if I don’t take the FTE and we need the money!

I am a little pissed with him as I left a gr8 contract with lots of extension scope and gr8 people (awful commute - up the country - overnight but 2 days work from Home) to go with him on the basis of 3-4 mths contract and then discuss FTE.
I’m in the door weeks!!
I do enjoy working with him, I’m well protected, he trusts me and I knew it would be fun.
! he is lovely, genuinely but a little green when it comes to HR stuff so I am not surprised he has made these f**k ups and believe me they are unintentional

Re maternity pay - I haven’t seen the T&Cs yet but legally I need to Have worked for employer for 26 weeks when you reach the 15th week before your due date to get 90% for 6 weeks. I would be fairly sure there T&C would have a similar clause. So no 90% for 6 weeks.

We heard you first time.

[london17]

Just imagine how pissed he is going to be when you sign and then tell him you are pregnant then.

Bearing in mind they have a budget for perm would it not be possible to point out your are pregnant and will be leaving in x number of weeks. They would save money paying you as a contractor for the period than they would sticking you as an FTE that isn't going to be around much and they have to continue employing you after? Might be a short term hit on the contract budget with a finite end rather than a long term FTE head who won't even be around in the short term future? Too risky maybe?

I don’t disagree with you and I have really struggled with this, believe me but.....I needed to weigh up the risk.
I moved from my last contract on the basis I had 4 mths on this...that has now been taken away.... they won’t extend if I say I’m pregnant. That’s my gut feeling.
They’ll give me 1 mth notice and I’ll be out end November. With a baby due end May and a big mortgage that’s not ideal to say the least.

He sold me the job big time and I moved on the assurance it was a secure deal and we would discuss full time early next year...

....but yes I could say...I’m 9,5 weeks pregnant. I haven’t told anyone. I really want to continue working for you and the company so how can we make this work....my concern is he won’t have the clout or HR maturity to negotiate on my behalf.

[london17]

I can see from the range of advice that this is a tricky one.
My gut feeling is to be honest with the boss but I would also expect him to cut you loose when you leave to have the kid AND possibly sooner if he can slot someone else in, that's just the way people are.
Also - how big is the place ? small consultancy - you are screwing them over really and going to leave them short, they will take this very personally. Massive multi-national - this will be a minor bump in the road.
They will know you knew at the time when you accepted the offer but if you can front it out, take the perm offer and act surprised later...
Feel free to be selfish, companies dont give a toss about you and will clear you out for any number of reasons.
Rule still holds - If you are likely to have bouts of sickness or pregnancy, perm tends to work best.

Global company but relatively immature in my area of expertise so building a new capability. Thanks for the advice!

[contractorinatractor]

I am un-expectantly pregnant (9.5 weeks) and have in the past 5 weeks started a new contract with an ex-boss of mine. We have a very good relationship and I can influence him if needed so providing I am well prepared it could make all the difference.
The contract runs until the end of Jan 2018. I knew from the outset he wanted me to join fulltime. Fulltime is also the preference of the Senior Director who he reports into. The ‘urgent’ project I was brought in to manage has been postponed by 6 months. They will honour my contract but next week he wants to start discussing going full time.
My daily rate is £600 and I would likely achieve £85k plus 40% bonus, car etc… Simply put – more expensive to have me on the books.
He really wants me to join but now I’m pregnant I have no idea what to do...or how to manage the conversation.
Financially I need to work up to as close to my due date.
I would like to work here full time but this changes things.

Some other considerations:
Commute door to door is 80 mins one way. Do-able but with a baby if there are delays I will have issues
There will be a requirement for international travel
My husband’s job is not flexible to allow for baby day care drop offs and pick-ups so I require flexibility

The meeting is next week to discuss. Any advice welcome!!!!

Option one: Get with the programme and realise you're having a child - career is on hold for some time, potentially for both partners. I don't feel you quite realise the magnitude entailed in having a child.

I have skimread the existing replies and haven't seen this mentioned: up to 10 weeks a 'simple' abortion (non-surgical) is possible. I am mentioning this purely to ensure you are aware that it is an option if you would prefer to wait a couple of years before having children. The risks are extremely low at so early a stage. The female friends I know who have had this method mentioned they do not regret it, safe in the knowledge they weren't ready. For most the 'accident' was with a long term partner; so it wasn't taken likely.

I don't think both partners can commute such a distance and also provide a healthy upbringing for a child, as is echoed by the majority of comments so far. Take heed of the message from recent parents who have highlighted the numerous illnesses and sick days required, likely for all three of you.

Your life is about to change enormously - are you ready for that change? It's 2017, you have options, please consider what you want carefully and wisely before jumping into parenthood. There is all the time you need for parenting.

For me: from the little you have mentioned, I cannot tell if you are keen to have a child yet. The commute sounds unviable and you haven't been able to plan a progressive career around the child. Don't take the permie gig. Children are sick for the first few ears of their life and so will you; the kids shrug it off whilst you wonder why you feel down every fortnight for a few days or more. Kudos to the honest parent posts so far.

[vetran]

Nigel is a tosser.

possibly now his wife has sussed him

He has an interesting take on things and without him we would be enjoying "Ever closer union" with Drunker without a vote, now if you think that is a good thing then fine. I don't!

[SueEllen]

possibly now his wife has sussed him

He has an interesting take on things and without him we would be enjoying "Ever closer union" with Drunker without a vote, now if you think that is a good thing then fine. I don't!

No we wouldn't.

While the current lot are largely useless there are those with views and a few with clout like Thatcher - give us rebates and an opt-out - and Brown - of the right economic tests - who would have ensured it wouldn't happen.

For some reason lots of Brexiters think all Europhiles in parliament are all in without thinking. They are not. They just know how to ask for things without winding the other 27 up unlike Camoron.

[SueEllen]

Back on topic -OP you need to have a serious talk with your partner. Otherwise you will end up resentful and then divorced.

[Hairlocks]

Option one: Get with the programme and realise you're having a child - career is on hold for some time, potentially for both partners. I don't feel you quite realise the magnitude entailed in having a child.

I have skimread the existing replies and haven't seen this mentioned: up to 10 weeks a 'simple' abortion (non-surgical) is possible. I am mentioning this purely to ensure you are aware that it is an option if you would prefer to wait a couple of years before having children. The risks are extremely low at so early a stage. The female friends I know who have had this method mentioned they do not regret it, safe in the knowledge they weren't ready. For most the 'accident' was with a long term partner; so it wasn't taken likely.

I don't think both partners can commute such a distance and also provide a healthy upbringing for a child, as is echoed by the majority of comments so far. Take heed of the message from recent parents who have highlighted the numerous illnesses and sick days required, likely for all three of you.

Your life is about to change enormously - are you ready for that change? It's 2017, you have options, please consider what you want carefully and wisely before jumping into parenthood. There is all the time you need for parenting.

For me: from the little you have mentioned, I cannot tell if you are keen to have a child yet. The commute sounds unviable and you haven't been able to plan a progressive career around the child. Don't take the permie gig. Children are sick for the first few ears of their life and so will you; the kids shrug it off whilst you wonder why you feel down every fortnight for a few days or more. Kudos to the honest parent posts so far.

I agree will all of this apart from "Don't take the permie gig." My advice is to take the permie gig, go on maternity at the last moment you are comfortable with. You will not get any pay, but then neither will you as a contractor. The benefit of taking the job if they have to offer you an equivalent up to 12 months, but you can always hand in you notice just before the 12 months is up complying with you contracted notice period.( You may get holiday accrued in this time)

You definitely need to talk to your husband about it. Our 2 children where planned, and it was planned for my wife to give up work, we don't know how other parents manage when they both work. For the first few years I had an understand employer and worked close to home. I had to take an afternoon off at one point with no notice, and my wife needed some sleep urgently, and couldn't cope any longer.

I have just started a new contract with a very long commute, but wonder if I am putting money too far above family life, as I only really get home in time just to go to bed and the children are still quite young

[milanbenes]

Lads,

can you help me here, I am puzzled with this one,

how can a Contractor become pregnant ?

Milan.

[BrilloPad]

A contractor mostly gets screwed by their agent......