Calling all Senior PA's/EA's - How did you tell your boss you were pregnant

[GoldenDaffodil]

I'm a senior PA to an extremely busy London Chief Executive who relies on me for everything. I hardly ever take sick days and even went into work every day when I broke my wrist! Although I've only had to take one day off in the last 13 weeks I'm finding the job increasingly tiring, and I'd like to have the pregnancy out in the open in the faint hope that colleagues might not expect so much of me. The trouble is I just don't know how to tell the boss because I don't think he'll take it well. Finding cover will be stressful for him and to make matters worse his mother died last week so my timing is terrible. Although this is my first baby I've already got a bump and don't know how much longer baggy tops are going to keep it hidden. I'm interested to know how other people told their bosses and what ther reactions were. Thanks.

Hey Daffodil - I'm currently in a similar position with my first pregnancy! I'm PA to CEO of a PLC company, and am working up to telling him (and everyone else - we haven't told a soul yet!) as soon as we've had the first scan (next Friday!). I'm also finding things stressful / tiring at work.

Before I tell the boss, I'm going to come up with a full written proposal for my replacement, including:

• replacement's job spec (no way a temp could do all the jobs I do, so need to work out exactly what they could realistically do)
• recruitment / interview process (involving him at 2nd stage interviews etc)
• training / handover period
• proposed maternity leave dates (I'm currently thinking of coming back after 6 months, with DH then taking over childcare with paternity leave for a few months)
• an offer to be at the end of a phone if any help is needed in the office... (groan)

Hopefully this will reassure him that I've thought this through, and that I will be coming back. My reasoning is, if he doesn't have to worry - then he'll be happy!

Good luck - let me know how you get on!

GoldenDaffodil/Beegee757 - you are both obviously much more loyal PAs than me. I just told them and couldn't care less how they manage! Although this is my second pregnancy and after my first DC was born my priorities totally changed. Although I am still very good at my job, am reliable etc etc, work just pays the bills and my babies are my priority and who I am loyal to.

I rolled my sleeves up and accidentally revealed the sea sickness bands I was wearing to try and help the morning sickness

After that it all tumbled out

Good luck! I'm sure your boss will be pleased for you. Mine was

Excellent advice from Beegee. I am In-house Counsel and Company Secretary at a plc and report to the CEO. It is a very bespoke position so I did exactly what Beegee recommends and had an entire plan for cover mapped out before I said a word. Although he went a bit white, he was pleased for me and was just relieved not to have to think about it too much.
That said, I ended up doing quite a bit of work on mat leave, but it did mean I strolled back afterwards on my terms so alls well that ends well.
Congratulations :-)

Hi Everyone

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply : )

Beegee Your suggestions are particularly helpful, I took some time today to formulate a plan of action which will make it much easier when I do eventually pluck up the courage to tell him.

As Gurrann says they key thing is offering practical solutions for coping with your absence so that they don't have to think about it too much.

Pura your comment about the sickness bands made me laugh. I'm very glad to hear your boss was pleased for you.

Timothy I'm sure my attitude to work will probably change once I've had the baby. I'm hoping to be able to find a balance but I know that will be a huge challenge.

Good luck to everyone in their pregnancies. Beegee I'll let you know how I get on, our situation is very similar.