when should i tell work?

[thecatsarecrazy]

It's been over 7 years since I had my last baby so I'm a bit rusty of when I should do what. I only work p.t so wont be entitled to maternity pay but I've been getting overtime lately. I have my booking in appointment on the 30th and have had to leave a note at work to say can't do that day (I was on rota to) obviously its going to get tricky when I get more appointments but I don't want many people to know.

[DavidPuddy]

I told my bosses right after the 12 week scan. I had morning sickness for a long time and anaemia so their support helped me to keep on working effectively. It also gave them adequate time to find and train a maternity replacement, which was not a simple task.

We told the rest of the team a week or so before the replacement started. It would have been sooner but I was travelling a lot for the project and time just whizzed past. Mine is a very supportive workplace and I didn't feel the need to keep it a secret. On the other hand I work abroad and people are very respectful about keeping a distance.

Not sure if this helps, just wanted to share my experience.

[SpeakNoWords]

Can I ask why being part time would mean you won't get maternity pay?

[star15]

I told my boss after my 12 week scan.

I also work PT (24hrs) and will be receiving Maternity pay.

[skankingpiglet]

It depends on your job. This time I'm self-employed, but last time I told my LM as soon as I knew (I was 8wks IIRC) as my job involves heavy lifting, working at height, and some fumey chemicals. By telling they were able to do a risk assessment straight away and limit certain activities. I waited to tell the rest of the team until after my 12wk scan.
Unless you have problems there are very few appointments in the early months, so it's easy enough to avoid telling them if that is your main reason to say 'early'.

[thecatsarecrazy]

Because my contract is only 8 hours and as far as I'm aware you have to do more for the employees to pay you? Last time I had to apply for maternity allowance from the job center. Lately I've been doing 16 or 20 hours but that could change and they think nothing of taking hours off you after putting them on rota.

[KayTee87]

I told mine after my 12 week scan but legally you have until around 24/25 weeks. I don't think maternity pay is worked out on the number of hours you work in a week.

www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents

[RaeSkywalker]

I had to tell them at 6 weeks because I have HG and was admitted to hospital. Otherwise I would've aimed for 12. I don't think you have to tell them until 20 something weeks.

See how you cope- if you're on your feet a lot, you might need to tell them earlier. If you're doing anything hazardous, I'd tell them right away!

[ForeverBubblegum]

It’s dependent on how you feel, how you think your work will react, and how early your pregnancy starts to show. The ‘norm’ seems to be about week 12 but you do not have to give notice until 15 weeks before the due date.

Qualifying for Maternity leave is not based on your contracted hours but you earnings averaged over the 8 weeks before your qualifying week which works out as weeks 17-25. You only have to make £112 a week to qualify so 16 hours a week would be sufficient if you’re over 25 so getting at least the living wage.

Your employer may try to avoid having to pay by only giving you your contracted hours during this time so unless your work if physically demanding or hazards I would be tempted to not tell until the rota has been release. Then if they remove your hours without good course it would be classed as pregnancy discrimination, although some twatish employers may still try.

However if you start to show before this I would then tell them straight away, as your legal protection against unfair treatment in pregnancy doesn’t kick in until you have given them notice.