Telling my manager I'm pregnant

Meredith

Hi all,
I'm pregnant with my 1st baby and I'm due to have my first hospital appointment at 12 weeks, which I know I'm entitled to take time off work for. I have a good relationship with my manager and while I don't have a problem talking to her about it, I was hoping not to have to tell work about my pregnancy (morning sickness permitting!) until after 12 weeks.

I would imagine I do have to tell work if they have to give me the time off but my partner and I don't plan on telling anyone, apart from immediate family, our news until at least after the 12 week mark.

Does anyone know if I am obliged to tell my employer as I need to take time off for the appointment?

edellc

You don't have to do anything you don't want to work don't own you, phone in sick and tell then when your good and ready

And best if luck with it all

ABajaninCork

Just take a day off. You don't have to tell anyone anything until it's time.

Best of luck!

DM addict

Although I wouldn't agree with the advice of calling in sick, you're not obliged to tell anyone until 6 months, so take your time! Either say you need the time off for doctor's appointment - routine check up - or just take the time.

Good luck.

Stheno

DM addict wrote: »

Although I wouldn't agree with the advice of calling in sick, you're not obliged to tell anyone until 6 months, so take your time! Either say you need the time off for doctor's appointment - routine check up - or just take the time.

Good luck.

I'm not sure that you don't have to tell anyone in your workplace for six months, for some environments, from a health and safety perspective employers want/need to know sooner than that?

ABajaninCork

OP wants to wait (understandably) until after the 12 week mark to inform her employers. I assume she is able to do that as she hasn't indicated otherwise.

I agree that she shouldn't call in sick, but simply taking the day off or asking for a couple of hours casual leave in order to keep a doctor's appointment should't be too much of a stretch.

Mrs OBumble

DM addict wrote: »

...you're not obliged to tell anyone until 6 months, so take your time!

Links please ...


I have a feeling that some employees are required to notify their employer as soon as they find out.

But I don't know if that's everyone, or just in certain industries - and that it's well enough covered in induction that anyone in those jobs would know about it.

So ... if anyone has relevant links, they'd be much appreciated.

tatli_lokma

I don't believe there is any legal obligation upon you to tell your employer before the 12 weeks, however as Mrs OBumble points out, it might be pertinent to do so in certain circumstances. For example if there is any strenuous or hazardous duties you need to perform. When you inform your employer of your happy news, they will need to carry out a risk assessment. If you don't inform them and then have some sort of accident which caused damage to the baby (god forbid), I imagine there would be an element of having contributed to the situation by not informing them.

I completely understand why you would not want to inform people prior to the 12 week mark, but you need to also consider if telling one trustworthy manager might be the sensible thing to do.

If you decide not to tell work until after the 12 week scan, you can still claim that time as maternity within one week of the appointment.

From Citizens Information

•You should apply to your employer in writing providing medical evidence of your pregnancy and telling your employer that you need time off to attend antenatal appointments.
•You should give at least two weeks' written notice of the date and time of your appointments.
•If this notice is not given for reasons not in your control, then you can retain your entitlement, provided you write to your employer with an explanation and with the notice. You will need to do this within one week of the appointment.

So by doing the last one, you will have both proof of pregnancy and give notice at a time that is confortable with you and still get your entitlement.

Meredith

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I checked out the info work has about maternity leave and I don't actually have to notify them until 4 weeks before the baby's due...although everyone will obviously know about it well before then

I'm also not due to get my first scan until just after 15 weeks so I'll need time off for that too but I'm not sure I'm keen to tell everyone else until then either.

I suppose my issue with the first appointment is that I'll need more than a half day for it. It's at 10.15am which means there's no point in going to work beforehand and I gather the first appointment lasts a couple of hours, so by the time I get back to work I'll have exceeded half a day's work so I can't just say I need an hour or two for an ordinary doctor's visit.

I'll talk to my other half about whether to tell my immediate manager sooner otherwise I'll just take the day off to keep things simple!

Eoin

Meredith wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I checked out the info work has about maternity leave and I don't actually have to notify them until 4 weeks before the baby's due...although everyone will obviously know about it well before then

Informing them of your plans for maternity leave might not be the same thing as informing them that you're pregnant, so it might be worth double checking that.

Totally understandable that you don't want to tell anyone before the 12 week mark - but it might be worthwhile telling your boss in confidence, just in case you need some allowances if you're feeling particularly tired, ill, or need an appointment at late notice etc. Play it by ear anyway.

Maybe ask in this forum to see how other expectant woman have dealt with it at work.

Best of luck with everything!

Shivers26

Is there a particular reason you don't want to tell your immediate supervisor? Is it just the 'wait until 12 weeks have passed' time frame or have you another reason?

For your first appointment maybe just take a days holiday. You will most likely get a quick scan that day (depending on your hospital).
It may be no harm to inform your immediate supervisor just so they can lend a bit of support to you.

I had intended keeping it quiet until 12 weeks as well but then just blurted it out at 10 weeks and my then manager was fine about it. Just as well too as I had an awful, awful pregnancy and she was very understanding about my needing days off at short notice. Also my employer at the time was required to carry out a H&S risk assessment on me so if this would be relevant to you keep it in mind. I work in hotels so it related to exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals, making sure I didn't walk on certain floors that had just been washed in case I slipped, stuff like that. Just something to bear in mind.

Just FYI, you are entitled to a paid half day off for hospital appointments so you only need to use take a half days holiday per appointment to get a full day off. Maybe start a spreadsheet to keep track of your days off.

How Strange

I told my manager at 10 weeks both times as I had a dating scan at 11 weeks. Obviously I told her in confidence which she respected.

Take a day off if you want to but don't ring in sick. Personally I think you're better off telling her and getting paid time off.

Mr. Loverman

Chances are your boss already knows you're pregnant! In my experience it is normally quite obvious - no more hair dye, no more alcohol, healthier diet, etc.

Regardless, do what is best for you, so only tell them when you are ready to do so.

Pixie71

You can just tell him you have an appointment and you inform HR and give them the letter and make it clear that it is not to be disclosed, they shouldnt anyway, then as long as they have a copy of the letter of appointment you should get the relevant time off for this.

Once you are ready to tell people then that is up to you.