Self employed - when should I tell my boss I'm up the duff?

[LuluLozenge]

I'm self employed but do the bulk of my work for one company.

I'm 16 weeks' pregnant and in a moment of weakness confided in one of my male colleagues before Christmas.

It was my first day back after Christmas today. Said colleague (after blatantly and unsubtly checking out my midriff) cornered me in the tea room and said I was obliged to tell the boss, saying 'when he finds out, he'll wonder why you didn't say anything sooner'.

I got a bit mardy (feeling very cross lately!) and said I was under no obligation to tell my boss as I was self employed etc etc. My colleague said he agreed but looked a bit put out.

But am I right? When do I need to tell my boss? This is probably a stupid question as I probably only have a month before it becomes obvious anyway.

Thanks

[nomoreheels]

You're not legally obliged to tell an employer until 25 weeks, by which point you have to formally give notice of wanting to take ML & give them your MatB1 form.

However...not sure where you stand re: being self employed. Would guess you'd just tell them by 25 weeks in writing what you intend to do re: ML & when you will & won't be available.

I presume you wouldn't qualify for their maternity benefits anyhow since you're SE, so you'd just be applying for maternity allowance which you'd do yourself anyhow. Or do you have a contract? If so are there terms in there?

You might want to post in employment as there are some HR types there who answer questions. A couple of them can come across as a bit harsh (IMO) but some of them are really helpful.

Sounds like your colleague is just being a bit arsey.

[LuluLozenge]

Hi nomoreheels.

Thanks for the reply - I don't think I could get away with waiting any longer than 25 weeks! But that's good to know - I think I will stick with those guidelines.

I won't be eligible for ML but have already planned around that.

Yes my colleague is being a bit funny - which is quite amusing as he's one of those guys who rolls his eyes about women 'creating dramas' and now here he, creating his own!

Thanks again.

[nomoreheels]

Yes, it's fairly obvious before then - I've wondered what it would be like to leave it & let people wonder, knowing they can't come straight out & ask!

Your colleague sounds like one of those types who thinks that falling P is some sort of inconvenience. He probably has zero idea of the laws around it if he came out with that.

Good luck & congratulations!

[jasmine51]

Hi
I am in your position and had a dilemna re telling my main client my news.
In the end, around 14 weeks and conveniently around the New Year I sent my 'boss' a formal email setting out my plans for 2011. I told him the dates I would be working, how long I intended to take off and some blurb about how I intended to work at full energy up to my departure point and really looked forward to renewing contact once I returned to work. I offered him a recommendation of someone who I felt could fill in for me if he required and assured him I would be on the end of the phone if there were any issues he wanted clarified whilst away.
It might seem a bit smarmy but it seemed to do the job. I've been working very visibly to show him I'm not slacking and he seems to have got over his initial panic.

Its really tough, I know to be in this position!

re MA, do you work through a Limited Company or are you purely self employed? If SE then you would need to go down the MA route. If through a limited company then there is the SML option