Should I tell work I'm pregnant now?

[UpYaKilt]

I work part time in a healthcare setting and was recently offered the chance lo start up my own clinic. I have started this month with additional temporary hours being added to my permanent wages.

I have also found out this month that I am pregnant, which is a big surprise as we were told that this wound definitely never happen without IVF etc.

The extra clinic has not started yet - I am in the throes of setting things up. Once I do there will only be myself to run it, with no holiday cover and noone to cover my mat leave.

I am torn between telling my boss now so that they can decide to cancel the project before a lot of effort is spent setting it up, or leaving things until the clinic is underway so that I have created a position that I can come back to.

I am about 6 weeks pregnant and have had a couple of early miscarriages, so am also reluctant to announce myself so early on.

Help, what should I do?

[MoaningMingeWhimpersAgain]

I would hang on a bit if you can, but working in healthcare there may be risk assessment type issues to factor in. There will have to be holiday/sickness cover for your role anyway - I would still do the new clinic if you are keen, there will be plenty of time to arrange Mat Cover for you when the time comes.

[UpYaKilt]

Sorry, just realised I didn't explain very well. The new clinic involves special training that only I have done in our area, so someone else would need to be trained pretty swiftly. Not sure if there would be the funding to train them, plus pay me mat leave and them to cover.

I know this isn't technically my problem but I'm feeling very guilty that I'm potentially going to abandon a job that was created due to the fact that I have these skills.

Also not sure if it's a good idea to start a clinic and then stop it 6 months later.

On a more selfish note, I think I would get more mat pay if I'm doing the increased hours before I stop work, which would be very handy!

[KirstyJC]

Congratulations! I think this early on is too soon to tell, you don't want to tempt fate. (Though I'm sure it will be fine)

They shouldn't treat you differently if you are pregnant anyway so you should still be able to do the clinic if they have agreed it already - changing this now would likely be seen as discrimination due to pregnancy. (Unless there are specific risks identified with your Maternity risk assessment of course).