was hired @6 months pregnant, what will be my actions?

[Kotichka]

Hello Privet, the situation is the following: i was hired by the professional non-profit organization for the full-time position being 6 months pregnant. The thing is - they didn't know that this is my status cause i was 4,5 months at the interviews with them.
When should i tell them that i'll have to have maternity leave for 12 weeks?
What are the laws applying to pregnant women in NY? Please help! Im afraid to get fired, don't want to loose the position, at the same time want to be professional and competent.
Thank you,

[UzheTuta]

You not going to get fired for being pregnant, especially not from non-profit. They usually have very detailed HR policies and wouldn't descriminate against pregnant women. They need to have another cause for termination, if they decide to do it, so try not to get in trouble and do your best.
But it is, indeed, very uncomfortable situation. At the same time, you are not the first to be in it.
I would assume that your condition is obvious or will be obvious at your start date, so you need to talk to your supervisor about your plans right away. It's not required, but is most professional.
Regarding you maternity leave I wouldn't hope to get paid during this period if you still concedered to be on probation.

[Eden]

Are you sure you are eligible for the 12 weeks?

"You are among the 60 percent of U.S. workers who are eligible if you meet both of the following conditions:

You work for the federal government, a state or local government, or any company that has 50 or more employees working within 75 miles of your workplace.

You've worked for your employer for at least 12 months and for at least 1,250 hours during the previous year (an average of 25 hours per week for 50 weeks)."

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs28.htm

[Галина]

Hello Privet, the situation is the following: i was hired by the professional non-profit organization for the full-time position being 6 months pregnant. The thing is - they didn't know that this is my status cause i was 4,5 months at the interviews with them.
When should i tell them that i'll have to have maternity leave for 12 weeks?
What are the laws applying to pregnant women in NY? Please help! Im afraid to get fired, don't want to loose the position, at the same time want to be professional and competent.
Thank you,

You are ineligible for FMLA based on the hours you will work, but, you can be covered under the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). The PDA applies to employers with 15 or more employees and requires covered employers to treat women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions in the same manner as other applicants or employees with temporary disabilities. It requires employers to provide pregnant employees the same leave and benefits granted to nonpregnant employees with temporary disabilities. According to guidelines issued by the EEOC, policies relating to the commencement and duration of leave, availability of leave extensions, accrual during leave of seniority and other benefits and privileges, insurance coverage, and reinstatement after leave all must apply equally to both pregnancy and other temporary medical disabilities.

Under NY Law a pregnant worker is entitled to disability benefits for the period she is certified by her doctor as unable to work. Employees in the private sector are covered under the New York State Disability Benefits Law (Article 9, Workers Compensation Law). It requires all covered employers to treat claims filed for pregnancy-related disabilities the same as claims for any other disability. Specifically, benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks to eligible employees who have submitted acceptable medical proof of disability.

I propose you to talk to the HR in your Company and learn your options. Your Employer will honor PDA, but your Employer can also agree for the additional time off without pay. You can be required to cover the cost of the health insurance benefits (since you are ineligible for FMLA) for the time that exceed the period of leave under the PDA, but agreed in advance with your Company as an unpaid time off.