short term contract but expecting

[northernladuk]

my gf got the job. she mentioned the pregnancy after the offer was emailed to her. The HR was all very nice and sweet about the 'good news' at that time. 2 days before her joining, they come back saying if she would rather take it up as a temp job(per hour basis) instead of a fixed term contract minus all benefits; and asking whether she will be able to handle the 'pressure'. what could be the catch here? r they trying to discourage her from taking the job, or r they just protecting their backside legally?

Couple of questions. What are the 'benefits' with the fixed term one? Would the hourly rate be the same as the fixed term daily rate? Would the temp one just run and run or have an end date like the fixed term? Understand both options well.

To be fair it looks like they are just giving her a different option which they believe might be better for her and also suit them. If it is per hour she can take time off for doc's, sickness and they don't have to pay her when she isn't it which makes admin easier for them and no stress from your other half if she needs the time. I expect notice would be different so again may suit her depending on how the pregnancy goes and yes suits them if it she starts taking a lot of time off etc etc. Could even be on a per hour basis she can work right up to the last minute beyond what would have been notice period??

Of course they are protecting their backsides legally. Who wouldn't when dealing with pregnant women nowadays, must be a HR's worst nightmare, but it doesn't look like they are doing it purely to suit themselves. Some of the options there look like they could actually be a benefit to your partner so good on them I say.

Judge each option on it's own merit and do what is best for you two and the future baby Sid.

[SueEllen]

On pregnancy rights, she has none as a contractor. That's one reason why clients take on contractors: work done with none of those pesky employment laws to bother with.

Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on whose side you are on she does actually have employment rights as a contractor this is due to the laws they fall under.

They aren't allowed to discriminate against her due to being pregnant. (There was a contractor on here who got paid the rest of her contract as compensation due to a client dismissing her due to telling them she was pregnant.)

Plus under Health and Safety Regulations they need to ensure the work place is safe for her. Also if she gives birth during the contract she is legally not allowed to come back to the client site until 2 weeks after the birth (4 weeks if it's a factory or plant).

However no-one in their right mind would employ a woman knowing she was pregnant.


I've worked with pregnant women who have been fine and stayed working until a few days until they have gave birth. One was helping out on a project a via the phone 5 days after giving birth as she found just looking after small children boring.* Another came back exactly 2 weeks to her contract after giving birth to her first baby.

On the other hand I've worked with women have have disappeared from the work place for the entire time they were pregnant due to being so sick.

As no-one knows what category the woman will fall in, this is extra expense and hassle as a business you don't need regardless of the size you are and how you are employing people.

*Boring doesn't mean you don't love the child(ren)

[SueEllen]

my gf got the job. she mentioned the pregnancy after the offer was emailed to her. The HR was all very nice and sweet about the 'good news' at that time. 2 days before her joining, they come back saying if she would rather take it up as a temp job(per hour basis) instead of a fixed term contract minus all benefits; and asking whether she will be able to handle the 'pressure'. what could be the catch here? r they trying to discourage her from taking the job, or r they just protecting their backside legally?

If they didn't want her, as most people (like Craig1) including the women involved don't realise it's discrimination for them to immediately pull the job, they would pull it.

The rest is as northernladuk said.

[Fred Bloggs]

I'm afraid I am of the belief that if the lady can fulfil the terms of the contract as agreed, then it is none of the client's business whether she is pregnant or has three heads, or both even.

[fullyautomatix]

my gf got the job. she mentioned the pregnancy after the offer was emailed to her. The HR was all very nice and sweet about the 'good news' at that time. 2 days before her joining, they come back saying if she would rather take it up as a temp job(per hour basis) instead of a fixed term contract minus all benefits; and asking whether she will be able to handle the 'pressure'. what could be the catch here? r they trying to discourage her from taking the job, or r they just protecting their backside legally?

Problem is every company in UK is tulip scared of pregnant women. They run to the hills when they spot one. Pregnant women are, rather unfortunately, associated to being irregular, taking days off to visit the doc, mental breakdown, stressing every minute the list goes on.