More of a WWYD

[meltedchocolateandstrawberries]

I started a new job on Monday and I've just found I'm 6 weeks pregnant. My first midwife appointment is in 2 weeks when I'll be at work. I feel like I need to tell my boss, I hate lying and I don't have a good excuse for the appointment otherwise. Also, I feel rough so that's going to be hard to hide. Do you think I should tell her? At least if she knows and doesn't immediately fire me, then I can go to my appointments because legally they have to allow me to.

You’re going to be popular! You may as well tell her now and do away with the subterfuge. She’ll work out the dates when you tell her later on anyway.

Congrats on the pregnancy ❤️

Oh and also, I feel like I should tell her so that she doesn't waste her time training me for the next few months and then I've left by the end of the year anyway.

I know right?!🤦‍♀️😬yeah I agree, just wanna make sure I'm not being too hasty. Thank you😊

Are you planning not to return after the birth? What would you do until your mat leave if you’re not being trained to do the job you were employed to do? Wouldn’t that just mean you’re a bum on a seat and they still need to recruit someone to do the job you were hired to do?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it would be illegal to fire you for being pregnant, they are not allowed to treat you differently so have to still train you etc

In the real world I'm sure there are ways they can minimise the amount of training they invest in you if they want, but IMO this just tells you about what the company are like to work for long term.

Good luck, I hope the conversation surprises you by going better than you fear

Yeah but if they put the effort and time into training me and then I leave, isn't it just a waste? Whereas if they hire someone else, the time won't be wasted. I assumed that people only really go back to a job after mat leave if they get mat pay which I won't. It's just a basic job, not my career or anything and I'm lucky enough that we don't really need the money.

If you were my direct report I’d just congratulate you and crack on.

Its just work and stuff happens.

If they fire you for being pregnant then they aren’t worth working for.

How new is the job?

Thanks :) yeah it's definitely illegal but I don't think I'd have a leg to stand on after only working one day so far. I think I'm also giving them a get out clause cause I feel bad.

Literally started on Monday.

Oh, I just assumed you cared about the job and wanted to go back to it.

I’d probably just leave then as why go through all that training and settling in and getting to know people to leave in a few months if you don’t need the money?

@Merryoldgoat yeah exactly. I just feel bad, one for getting pregnant and two for leaving really. But it does make sense.

It’s just work - don’t worry and do what suits you best.

I love my job but I had shitty pregnancies and if I didn’t have to work through them I wouldn’t have

are you married? do you really have the financial security to quit a job and not care about working for the next 7 months? If so, fine.

But the sensible option is to keep quiet about the pregnancy, get trained so you have the training on your CV and keep working and saving money while you can.

Thank you :)

Yeah I'm married. I've been a sahm for a while and now that my son is at school, I got a job because the extra money would pay for holidays and extras but we can do without.