Who knows about legality and maternity leave?

[Odonata]

I'm paranoid. 

I'm a teacher who is on a year-to-year contract (private school). We should be getting contracts for next year in the next two weeks or so.  There is no guarantee I (or anyone) will be "asked back" but I'm pretty sure I will be.  HOWEVER, I need to keep this pregnancy under wraps to ensure I do get that contract for next year.  

I don't plan to tell anyone until 12 weeks anyway, which puts me at the start of April.  The way my school sometimes does things is they give you an entire semester off, if it works for your timing (and we are a semester school).  I'm due in October so they might offer off from September 7th to January 7th to make it easier to just have a long term sub (but only deduct pay for the normal 6 week time).  

Ethically, I would want to give the administration enough notice to hire someone for the first semester as a long-term sub. They are currently hiring people. April will be a good time to tell them.

HOWEVER, I also know our contracts are written where either party may opt out within 90 days of my signing it.  So I'm scared that if I sign my contract but let them know I'm pregnant before that 90 days, they are still legally allowed to opt out of the contract and find a replacement for next year.  So to be sure, I'll have to wait another 3 months to break the news, which puts me in July - well after school has ended.

IF I sign a contract and then later announce my pregnancy, and they then back out of the contract before the 90 days - do I have ANY case if I want to say they are discriminating against my pregnancy?  Or should I wait until July? (and can I hide a bump that long??)

[Deleted]

4 years of HR experience, sure you have a case but good luck proving it. Best bet is not to say anything until after the 90 days.

[smock]

When does the school year end? If you can wait to July to inform the school, but you'll stop seeing coworkers daily in May/early June, you can probably hide it.

[aqualuv]

8 years of HR. If either party can opt out within 90 days of signing I don't think you would have a case. While you could think it was pregnancy discrimination they can always come up with another reason. It would be hard to prove. If you can wait until after the 90 days of signing the contract I would. Good luck!

[Odonata]

Feb 21, 2014 14:55:45 GMT -5 smock said:

When does the school year end? If you can wait to July to inform the school, but you'll stop seeing coworkers daily in May/early June, you can probably hide it.

Very true.  

I'm wondering if I can hide things from my nosy high school students....