When is the appropriate/ safe time to tell your employer you are pg and what to arm yourself with?

[babybear2468]

Hi,

I am only 6wks but thinking ahead already to when is the best time to break the news to the boss. I have looked into the medical from the matb1 that is required and found you only get this when 20+ wks.

Is there a way of telling your employer earlier? or is there a risk to your job if you dont have this form?

Any help would be very welcome

Your employer isn't allowed to sack you just because you're pregnant - ITS ILLEGAL! Have you got a good relationship with your team leader/manager? If you have maybe break the news just to them and tell other colleagues when you feel comfortable congratulations!

I'm 4wks and I'm telling my line manager as soon as I see her - probably at the weekend. From my point of view, that's because I've been very ill with a pg before and I've also had a MC, so I don't want any problems with sickness leave if they don't already know I'm pg. I do work for one of the biggest employers in the country though, and they're very good with pg - have to be really!

I told my direct manager at 8 weeks, because I had really bad morning sickness & wanted her to understand I wasn't slacking of taking the piss because I was calling in sick all the time.
I'm really glad I did as she was really supportive & I instantly felt less guilty.
I waiting until after my 12 week scan to tell everyone else though.

I told my direct boss at around 8 weeks. He was very happy for me. I kind of had to though because I couldn't avoid an aspect of my work for any longer and needed occy health sign off (x-ray exposure).

I told my training review panel at 10 weeks and it went down like a lead balloon. They then refused to directly say pregnant through the remaing half hour meeting but instead constantly referred to 'my condition' or 'given the information you've given us'. Grrr. My dread before the meeting wasn't helped by the fact that the woman ahead of me was 7 months pg and she was warning me about how unhelpful they'd been.

Hope yours is better

tell them whenever you want, sooner if you do a job involving heavy lifting

Than a you all so much for sharing your experiences. I do have a manager I get on with but I haven't known him for long. I think I will do a mix of what you have suggested... If I feel I'll then I will have to tell him so they don't think I'm pulling a sickie. Will definitely tell my manager before I tell the team, I work with 95% men, and don't want them to treat me any differently because of it. Luckily I don't lift in my job so it won't affect my work. Will try to wait until I have had the first scan just to be sure too. Thank you so much again

I told my line manager about 3 days after we found out as I burst into tears over something relatively minor. She was totally amazing and was totally amazing during my pregnancy even though the company was going through so amazingly difficult times.

Just something else to take into account, employers legally have to give you the time off to attend your antenatal appointments. This meant I had to tell my boss quite early to get the time off for booking apt and scan without calling in sick (and this losing a days pay). They have to keep it confidential so the rest of your work can wait until you're happy to make the big announcement x

I told my employer quite early (5 weeks) because I had a medical condition that affected my job. The earlier you tell them, the sooner you are protected from any pregnancy discrimination - they can't be accused of discriminatory behaviour if they don't know you're pregnant.
However had I not had the medical condition I would probably have waited til 12 weeks just because of m/c risk.