SalesGal

Account Executive

Parental leave and carreer changes

Recently, my colleagues and I were talking about maternity/paternity leave and carreers. Where we live, generally, you will be on leave for about a year (for the purpose of discussion, let's assume the parent taking leave will be gone for a year).

Say you were thinking of starting a family soon but were also thinking of changing companies, would you make the move? Would you prefer to wait until you are pregnant and job search during your maternity leave? Say you did change jobs and found out you were expecting shortly after, how long would you wait before you told the company?

Most people I've asked all have very different opinions (some think you don't owe the company anything, while others think its "dirty" to take a job knowing you might be gone soon), so I was wondering where the war room stands on this.

Starting a family and carreer changes

Attached poll

Stay at your current job and wait until you are on parental leave before job searching Change jobs and wait 6 months/1 year before trying for kids Change jobs and try for kids right away (you never know how long it will take anyway) Ew kids

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

19

21 comment

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Sunbunny31

Arsonist

8

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Start by finding a job that makes you happy. Kids will come when they come, despite planning. Get involved in the job and then you can let nature take its course. There is no "good" time to have children if you want them.

SaaSam

Politicker

6

Account Executive

If you're already expecting, stay at current job and take parental leave when the child is born. Search for new job while on leave.

If trying to have kids but no bun in the oven yet, start your job search. If you're still not pregnant by the time you find a new job, take the new job. You'll still have however long it takes to get pregnant plus up to 9 months before you need to take leave anyways so that leaves plenty of time for current company to prepare for your absence.

If, while not pregnant but on the hunt for a job, you end up getting pregnant. Continue the job search until the end of the first trimester. If you find something before then, take it. Notify the company about a month later that you're pregnant. Still plenty of time for them to prepare and any half decent company is going to understand waiting until after first trimester to officially announce pregnancy.

If, you end up getting pregnant while job searching, but don't land anything before the end of the first trimester. Plan to stay at the company for another 6 months, have the baby, take parental leave and continue the search while on leave.

QueenSoopers

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

all of this ^ trying to get back into a new job or job searching after I came back from mat leave would have been very mentally taxing (i only did 3 months though because I was so excited to get back to work).

also, it’s super common to take the mat leave and once the $$ dries up at the end and you’re expected to come back, leave. i know tons of people who planned to work after baby, had baby and did mat leave and then no longer could see themselves working ever again. total personal preference and it’s hard to gauge. i thought i’d soak up that sweet sweet mat leave then i could barely last 2 months, and came back at 3 mo PP when I intended to take 4-5 mo.

funcoupons

WR Officer

3

👑

When I have kids, I intend on being done with working. I want my kids to be perfect like me, so they'll require my direct influence 24/7.

But my advice to the rest of the people who won't produce perfect children is to wait until you're on mat/pat leave to look for a new role if possible. Even though it's against the law, a lot of companies are reluctant to hire pregnant women because they know that person will require a lengthy leave soon after hire. Easier for men to hide that they'll be going on pat leave though. I also personally would rather not have to spend six months ramping/learning at a new company, go on leave for a year, then come back and have to learn everything again.

As for telling a company you'll be requiring mat leave, I think most women wait until after the first trimester (unfortunately this is where miscarriage is most likely,) and often until they're starting to show/exhibit pregnancy side effects that are going to be awkward to try and hide. You don't owe the company anything but if you want to maintain good relations with a company you want to remain at in the future, I would advise telling them as soon as it makes sense to so they can find an employee to cover for you while you're away. If you think your company will react negatively, you might want to wait and give minimal notice. Depends on the situation.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

for sure search while on leave.

I know a bunch of ppl that go on leave, come back, and put in their 2 week notice haha.

bandabanda

Tycoon

1

Senior AE Mid Market

dammmnn, ice cold

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

haha it does seem that way....but its 100% legal and fair.

no way i would tell an employer BEFORE i go on leave since i work in an "at will employment" state.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

2

Sales

My wife tried to quit during her maternity leave and was offered 40% more to stay. Take the leave, enjoy the kid, job hunt.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

Eww David!

Seriously do what makes you happy. I agree with Sunny. Kids are gonna come when they come. They DGAF about plans 😉

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

1

Rolling 20's all day

I'm not a dad yet so I'm here to learn

edit: I keep trying to claim my dog as a dependent by the IRS keeps telling me no

UserNotFound

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Mom of 3 & main bread winner of the fam here just drooling over the idea of a year long maternity leave. Was just talking to my kids about how hard it was to leave them at 8weeks. <br><br>When the time comes, do what’s right for your family. That is the only entity you owe anything to.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

1

MDR

If you're already expecting, stay at current job and take parental leave when the child is born. Search for new job while on leave.

IanJ

Executive

1

Enterprise Business Development

The companies that are worthy of your loyalty and consideration around this question will support you, regardless of when you get pregnant.

The companies that aren't worth your loyalty and consideration will probably make a big deal about this scenario and might not treat you well when you return.

I'd do what's best for you and your family above all.

A stressful pregnancy can be unhealthy for you and the baby. So whatever gives you less stress and more confidence in the future.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

1

ISR

all of this ^ trying to get back into a new job or job searching after I came back from mat leave would have been very mentally taxing (i only did 3 months though because I was so excited to get back to work).

MR.StretchISR

Politicker

1

ISR

Start by finding a job that makes you happy. Kids will come when they come, despite planning. Get involved in the job and then you can let nature take its course. There is no "good" time to have children if you want them.

Pachacuti

Politicker

0

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I would question the ethics of job searching while pregnant, knowing you’ll be taking a year off shortly after starting.

SalesGal

Politicker

2

Account Executive

I agree if you actually become pregnant right away. But for some people, it ends up taking years so what if you are one of these people and you stayed at a job in case you become pregnant? This is the part where my colleagues and I could not come to a general consensus.

Pachacuti

Politicker

-2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

The key word is “while”.
One could become pregnant at any time, it happens. But searching WHILE pregnant, knowing you’ll be taking a year off in the next 3-6 months, AND expecting that job to be there when you are ready to come back to it isnt fair or ethical to the employer.

LordBusiness

Politicker

0

Chief Revenue Officer

I took two weeks off for all of my kids. To each their own, but I don’t understand this 6-12 months off stuff.

Mr.Floaty

Politicker

0

BDR

I just don't need to track mileage the way I used to.

Cyberjarre

Politicker

0

BDR

Id like to see the knights win wouldn’t hate the Lightning.

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