Baby risk can cost you dear.

Byline: By KIM PILLING

MORE than three-quarters of bosses would not take on a woman recruit if they knew she would fall pregnant within six months of starting a job, a survey revealed today.

The report comes in the wake of newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky telling her employers she was expecting her first baby just six weeks into her new job.

Manchester-based Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) commissioned the survey of 1,100 company bosses and personnel managers after finding it was dealing with an increase in the number of cases involving pregnancy and new employees.

These included cases where candidates were asked in interview if they had plans for a family - something banned under sex discrimination law-and jobs withdrawn between interview and starting the post because of a pregnancy.

The UK-wide survey of male and female bosses and personnelmanagers found that, during the selection process, 52% will weigh up the chances of a candidate getting pregnant, taking into account age and whether they have just got married - although a direct question to a perspective member of staff cannot be asked.

The ELAS survey found 68% would like more rights to quiz candidates about their plans for a family. Only 5% of the bosses have employed someone knowing the candidate is pregnant and 86% said they would feel cheated if someone started a job and announced within weeks they were pregnant.

A total of 76% said theywould not take on a newrecruit if they knew they were going to fall pregnant within six months of starting.

Peter Mooney, head of consultancy at ELAS, said UK bosses would still shy away from employing a candidate who was pregnant, despite legislation to outlaw discrimination.

He said: "It is a very dangerous area and you simply cannot ask the question about plans for a family in an interview.

"For many bosses it is down to the bottom line - a pregnant member of staff will cost money. However, a visit to a tribunal can be even more costly.

"The fact that almost eight in 10 of those we surveyed would not employ someone if they knew they were going to fall pregnant within six months shows that discrimination is bound to happen if it is obvious that a candidate is expecting a baby.

"In most cases, the best candidate will still be the best candidate if they have to take time off for maternity leave. There is always a chance that a male employee could be off because of illness so it is best to base decisions on other things rather than the threat of a maternity leave," he said.

Kaplinsky, 35, joined Five in a blaze of publicity for a reported pounds 1 million after decamping from the BBC.

Six weeks into her job she told station chiefs she was three months pregnant.

Her bosses need not worry about how much she will cost them on maternity leave - Kaplinsky is not paid while off air.

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Natasha Kaplinsky