I was planning on submitting my formal resignation tomorrow, but I just took a pregnancy test and it’s positive. I don’t have a job lined up, but my current work environment is toxic and I’ve contemplated quitting for months now. Advice?

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First, it’ll be okay. Here are the considerations you should weigh:
1. Healthcare coverage
2. Finances for 12 months (9 of gestation and 3 for recovery)
3. Your mental health and ways you can support it while pregnant
4. Whether you can tell your employer early about your pregnancy and ask for accommodation/alleviation of any toxic elements of your environment. A reduced schedule might prevent you from receiving benefits but you can breach the conversation. The pregnancy discrimination act may protect you from adverse action against you but I’d highly advise you to discuss the facts of your situation with an employment lawyer first.

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No advice but this is what I did as I was in the same position. I literally found out I was pregnant the day before I was going to quit. I decided I needed health insurance and need the money saved up for the baby. My husband’s work at the time didn’t have any benefits. I ended up working at that place until I delivered, took advantage of my insurance and I had some of my maternity leave “paid” by applying vacation and personal days. While I was on maternity leave, I got a new job lined up that was willing to “wait” for me. I went back to my first job after leave and quit 5 weeks later due to the clawback provision.

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I wouldn’t quit without having a job lined up. Tough it out till you figure out your next plan. Even if you can’t find a job right away, plan on saving $$ from this toxic job before quitting. Having a baby is expensive so save, save, save while you can. I’m expecting right now and plan to quit at the end of the year. I’ll look around one month before I plan to leave.

Congratulations by the way.

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Definitely don’t resign tomorrow and take some time to think this through.

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I wouldn’t quit without a job lined up. What I’d suggest is to start looking for a job ASAP - and when you move thru the interview process and get an offer (hopefully soon!), negotiate maternity leave into your contract. I say to do it ASAP because if you’ll be at the new firm for several months before leaving to give birth they may be more amenable to giving you paid maternity leave

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Congratulations!

Perhaps take 12 weeks of FMLA leave concurrent with STD. It’s a pay cut but you’ll have health care and it’ll give you 3 months to find another job while being away from your current gig.

The biggest issue is getting the time off you’ll need when the baby comes at a firm where you have no tenure. Hopefully that firm will have may leave but there’s also the elimination period for joining benefit plan which could be as long as 3 months.

Sigh. There are no simple solutions but these are my thoughts. Good luck and congrats again!

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OP, do you think you can hang in through your pregnancy? Take your maternity leave and then quit. Of course, this depends on how bad things are at your job and your current finances. If the toxicity is to the level that it will negatively impact your health, it isn’t worth it. Congratulations and I wish you the very best!!!

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I accepted a job while pregnant but not showing yet and negotiated paid maternity leave (only three weeks, but it was paid and they would have permitted me to take more unpaid) into the acceptance. You can find a new job while pregnant. It may be harder once you are showing, but it is still doable. But, you do need steady employment.

Start looking and maybe reach out to a reputable recruiter to help you look since ideally you would get out of your current job ASAP.

Stress can impact your health and your baby’s health so try to delegate as much as you can. If it really gets unbearable, talk to your OBGYN about an order for reduced hours.

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