When to tell your boss

LegacyUser

I have just found out I'm having a baby (10 weeks gone.....periods were all over the place so didnt find out till yesterday)) and am wondering when is the latest to tell you boss. My job involves sitting down so no health & safety issues. I was hoping not to say anything until I was showing.

dudara

People generally wait until the end of the first trimester before telling others and employers. There is a chance of miscarrying in the first trimester and people like to wait until the pregnancy is more 'secure' before telling others.

oh, I forgot to say, Congratulations!

/smacks head

MorganB

My sister told her boss after 3 months. Just like the person above me said.

Congrats on the baby!

Barlow07

Lauren babe wrote: »

I have just found out I'm having a baby (10 weeks gone.....periods were all over the place so didnt find out till yesterday)) and am wondering when is the latest to tell you boss. My job involves sitting down so no health & safety issues. I was hoping not to say anything until I was showing.

First of all congradulations. You should wait until three months which is what most do or after your first scann, at least that way you know everything is all ok.

LegacyUser

i THOUGHT I MIGHT GET AWAY WITHOUT TELLING MY BOSS UNTIL 6 MTHS GONE.....

dudara

Your boss will have to organise maternity cover while you are on leave. Therefore you should inform HR at your organisation as soon as is possible. I'm unclear if there is a legal requirement on your part on when to inform your employer.

See here for more information on the maternity leave you are entitled to.

daiixi

One lady at work didn't tell anyone until she was six months gone. Everyone knew (you couldn't miss the belly) but noone said anything! Up to you when you tell though I suppose.

Toots

Congrats OP!! I wouldn't reccommend leaving it until 6 months to tell your boss. From a health and safety POV, there's certain procedures for when an employee is pregnant. They make sure you get extra breaks etc during the day and that you're not in a position that you have to do bending or lifting (even if it's just files) too. Also if you're really sick in the mornings and need to come in late or anything they'll need to know.

Besides, if you're coming in late in the mornings and getting rounder by the day, they'll guess sooner or later. One of my workmates got pregnant and didn't tell us until she was 5 months gone, now she didn't have a bump at all at this stage, but her breasts were HUGE, like Jordanesque, and there was a vicious rumour going round that she'd gotten a boob job!!! Luckily she saw the funny side.

Shelli

You dont have to tell them, but your better off, your entitled to paid time off for all you hosp/GP visits (and there will be many!) and also for a full set of anti-natal classes.

Barlow07

lauren babe wrote: »

i THOUGHT I MIGHT GET AWAY WITHOUT TELLING MY BOSS UNTIL 6 MTHS GONE.....

I dont you will be able to hide it that long and i dont think your boss would be to happy if he was told by someone else or if put 2/2 together and you waited for six months. I wouldnt worry about it, he should be happy for you, also HR will need to sort out your maternity leave and a replacement for the time you take or a temp until you return if you decide to.

How Strange

Firstly, you have to make sure you are working in a safe environment now that you are pregnant. There may be parts of your job that you can't do or may need to amend i.e. lifting boxes or maybe your working area isn't safe - trip hazards etc that are usually overlooked. Your employer cannot provide a safe environment if you don't inform them.

Secondly, you will need time off for hospital appointments. How do you expect to organise that if your employer doesn't know. They may get very annoyed at you taking so much time off unexplained. I know I would be and I wouldn't be paying you to take hours on end off for god knows what.

Thirdly, your employer has to arrange cover while you are on maternity leave so you should give them as much notice as possible.

Finally, and most importantly, your employer does not have to pay your full salary while on maternity leave. So before you go and get your employers back up by doing any of the above have a think about it because if you p1ss them off they may very well let you live on the state maternity benefit for the duration of your leave and save themselves a few quid.

Think of the bigger picture because you'll be the one ultimately losing out.

Congratulations by the way.

comongethappy

Just out of curiosity (I'm not preggers!), if you are pregnant, and you decide to tell your employer, would it be correct procedure to if you just told your line manager and leave it to them to tell HR, etc ; or should you report it to the senior manager in your department first? I had a scare a year back and it was going through my mind then, OP's question had brought it to mind again!

Nevyn

You have to also tell them for health and safety reasons so really waiting until you are 6months may be endangering you and your pregnancy depending on where you work.

Toots

comongethappy wrote: »

Just out of curiosity (I'm not preggers!), if you are pregnant, and you decide to tell your employer, would it be correct procedure to if you just told your line manager and leave it to them to tell HR, etc ; or should you report it to the senior manager in your department first? I had a scare a year back and it was going through my mind then, OP's question had brought it to mind again!

I think it depends on the place. AFAIK, you can tell your line manager and they will inform the powers that be so to speak. That's what the two girls in my place have done anyway. If you work for a very big organisation it should be grand to just tell your line manager. If you're not sure, tell the line manager first anyway, and they'll be able to let you know if there's anyone else you need to tell or if they can look after that for you.