Telling work whilst being worried about job future ?

[user1493813421]

I am currently 15wks with my first and unsure when to tell work.. I know the legal deadlines etc but wondering realistically when is best to let them know.. I don't see my boss very often and this is something I would rather tell them face to face rather than in a phone call or email.. At least then I can gauge the reaction!
I have a feeling they are not going to be overly happy about it. We are a small company and there has been talk of redundancies recently (not my role) but unsure if telling them would make me more of a target! Any thoughts or experiences with this? Thanks..

[EdgarAllenPoe]

Congrats on your pregnancy!

Legally you are protected from being targeted for redundancy due to pregnancy, however if it happened I doubt your boss would be stupid enough to overtly link it to your pregnancy. It can be hard to prove unfortunately. Since it's not your role you have that on your side. It would look suspicious for them to suddenly change direction just because of your news.

With that, and you are going to have to tell them eventually, I would tell them sooner rather than later so they can better plan for your maternity leave. They might appreciate that.

It will also mean you'll then be entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments and no-one can argue with you about that.

I told at 16 weeks, once I'd had 12 week scan results back etc. Plus I was really starting to show and couldn't really hide it much longer. I was worried about it (small company too) but if anyone was put out by it, they kept it to themselves. Companies can't very well expect none of their employees to ever reproduce.

[DinoMania]

I told my boss rather early, at 11 weeks, partly due to morning sickness being so bad and hard to hide but also because the company had recently laid off a few departments and ther was talk about more people being made to go as well as general restructuring. I decided telling him sooner would be best way to protect myself as it would look awful on their part laying off a pregnant woman but also as I knew he would appreciate being told sooner to consider how restructuring would work.

Good luck and congratulations x

[DinoMania]

Also though if they are considering redundancies then maybe they would appreciate only having to pay you maternity pay rather than full pay (although that's a way off for you yet) x

[user1493813421]

Thank you for your replies.... I think i'm worrying over nothing! Normally cool as a cucumber... Blaming the hormones! Like you say they may actually be glad that they'll have to pay me a lot less when I'm on mat leave...

[ItsNeverSunnyInWales]

I told my work pretty early, at about 8 weeks, as I have a high risk job and needed a risk assessment to see if I needed a change of duties.

You're also entitled to paid time off for appointments up to 6 hours at a time, plus any sickness related to your pregnancy is treated differently to normal sick leave.

I think at 16 weeks you should be thinking about telling them. They'll need it in writing, just a short email confirming your pregnancy and due date, then MatB1 form given by 25 weeks.

[user1493813421]

I know I need to tell them soon.. The next problem is I haven't seen my boss for about 6 weeks due to the nature of the business.... I have asked when they are likely to be back in the office and can't get a definitive answer! Its not really the type of news I want to deliver (no pun intended) in an email or phone call... Feel like I'm being a little deceitful at the moment by not telling them but as I'm not sure if they'll be overly happy about it would rather do it face to face.. Am a but stuck really!

[LoobyLou0226]

Hi someone more knowledgeable might be able to confirm this but I thought if they know you are pregnant and you are made redundant after you are still entitled to maternity pay so to cover your self it may be best to tell them sooner than later, although I hope your not at risk and this is unnecessary. Also means you are entitled to time off for appointments and would protect you if for some reason you had to take time off sick