Author Topic: Starting a new job with a baby soon coming  (Read 2564 times)

hoyahoyasaxa

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Starting a new job with a baby soon coming
« on: March 15, 2014, 10:22:37 AM »
Hello Mustachians,

My wife and I are moving to a new area and I just got a new job this week.  "Pending board approval" this Thursday, my first day will be either March 31st or April 7th.  The thing is, we are expecting our first child and he or she is due on April 15th.  Obviously, I didn't bring up an impending birth with the hiring managers during the interview process.  The baby could of course also come a little early or a little late.  What is the best way to bring this up with the new job?  I want to show them that I'm not going to be the type of person who needs a lot of time off or am unreliable, but they're also going to need to know that I'll need to sprint out of there when my wife goes into labor and will probably need about a week off to help while she's recovering that first week or so.

Any suggestions for how I handle this?
« Last Edit: March 15, 2014, 10:24:19 AM by hoyahoyasaxa »

Ziggurat

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Re: Starting a new job with a baby soon coming
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2014, 12:13:38 PM »
First off, I'd say do it in conversation with a person (not email or voice mail) and face-to-face if possible.  That gives you the chance to deliver in full nuance those points you made, that you don't want to look bad through this. 

But it depends on many things -- what kind of position (if board approval, I'm thinking it's something fairly high up?) Perhaps you can offer to keep connected a little bit from home, etc.  How many are in your group that can provide coverage? 

What is the work culture like? In the kinds of jobs I've had (and in Canada in general) there has been a strong sense of work/life balance. Where I've worked, the reaction would be "wow! congratulations! Of course you can get some time off. Family comes first. We'll manage fine without you for a little longer."  It wouldn't be paid time off for someone just starting, but arrangements would be made.  But I hear many workplaces are all about "productivity", minimal vacation time, and long workdays expected as the default.

I'd see this as a mini-negotiation ... be prepared to be reasonable to meet them partway to keep the employer's most important needs met as much as possible, at the same time being there for your wife and new child in a way you can look back on and be proud of.

kkbmustang

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Re: Starting a new job with a baby soon coming
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2014, 10:29:42 PM »
I agree with Ziggurat. I'd definitely be up front and negotiate it simply like you would other terms of employment. My husband and I have done that several times before with preplanned and paid for vacations. Be up front, negotiate the terms that work for both sides and there should be no issues or questions regarding your dedication to the company, job, etc. NOT saying anything, on the other hand, would be suspect.