What to tell work - Im pregnant?

[Onetwothree123]

I'm 8 weeks or so pregnant and I have just started a new job only 2 months ago. In fact, according to my dates, I was probably pregnant when I signed the contract! I'm dreading what to tell work. I work part time. I really love my job and don't want to loose it. I probably wont be entitled to maternity leave, but don't want to cut ties either and want to return some time after the baby is born. I'm really scared to tell my manager from fear of - "there you go again, another baby, off for a year...." Help!!! No one at work knows I'm pregnant and its getting more and more difficult to hide. I left my last job to have a baby.

My understanding is they can not sack you because you're pregnant. They are required to give you time off for appointments & by law you must tell them about your pregnancy at least 15 weeks before the beginning of the week the baby is due. So the fact you already knew is not legally relevant.

So although your boss may not like it, the law is fully on your side. You might not get v good maternity rights though in terms of not having been at your work place long, so
Perhaps check this with HR.

Good luck with telling your boss- remember if they are stroppy , they can't do anything!

Thank so much for your reply DirtyDancing. I didn't know I was pregnant when I joined but found out shortly after (unplanned).

I'd just not tell them for aslong as you can think u have to tell them by 16 weeks, then say look iv just found out I'm pregnant. U will get pay off the goverment but might not off the work. But just ask if they can keep ur job open xxx

I'm in exactly the same position as you. Except my job is only a temporary contract so I'm scared to tell them because obviously they won't extend it if I'm going to be off for a year! Nightmare!

Teaandkittens, how many weeks are you? I am planning on keeping quiet for as long as possible. Proving difficult though.

8+5 so still a while until I have to say anything! is it 16 weeks when you HAVE to?

You don't have to tell work until you're 25 weeks! You are entitled to up to 52 weeks maternity leave, however if you were pregnant when you started you will probably only get maternity allowance paid by the government which is £135ish a week for 39 weeks, then 13 weeks unpaid.

Hiya
I was in a similar situation 3 years ago with my first (I’m 4months gone with number 2 now) I fell pregnant 2 weeks after starting a new job. But I’m still there and they were extremely supportive, legally they have to be of course.

I told them at 3 months which was just at the end of my probation period, they still made me permanent shortly afterwards. Just told them I’m expecting number 2 and again they were delighted for me.

As it was a couple of weeks after I started I fell preggers I qualified for Mat pay of 6wks at 90% then 33 at basic statutory as had been there 26 wks up to the 15th wk before my due date, think I qualified by just a few days – hadn’t expected anything other than basic statutory.

Good luck when you speak to work – I’m always surprised how decent people can be – mind you I ended up in floods of tears when I spoke to them as got myself so worried about it - when they couldn’t have been nicer to me .

I found out I was pregnant 4 weeks after starting a new job I was worried sick about telling my boss but they were actually lovely about it, hopefully it will be fine.

I'm considering ttc, & dreading the idea of telling work if/when. I've been there for 3m & I know they hired me never thinking I would be off for maternity leave...

I was in a very similar situation, had been in my job about 12 weeks when I found out I was 9 weeks pregnant. Your work cant under any circumstances fire you because your pregnant and must give you time for your midwife appointments etc, legally you do not have to tell them until you are 25 weeks though if you are having morning sickness etc it may be easier to tell them before then. To qualify for statutory maternity pay (ie paid through your work) you must "have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth - called the ‘qualifying week’" (taken from UK government website) however if you don't qualify you get the same terms, it's just paid by the government instead - I qualified for SMP by 2 weeks! Check out www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/overview

In my case I was dreading telling work as not only had I only been there 3 months I'm diabetic so have had to take pretty much a whole afternoon off every month to see my consultants, have scans etc. I also work with a bunch of men (only 3 other women in the whole office), all the bosses are men, it's a small company so no HR dept and the company is so young they've never had any one need maternity leave before me. Despite all that though they could not have been more supportive of me, giving me a hug when I told them and making a big fuss when I finished for my maternity leave so I'm sure it will be fine.

Fingers crossed and congratulations.

This leaflet is really helpful: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32174/10-1168-pregnancy-and-work-employee.pdf

Thanks for this information. It's really useful. And knowing other women have gone through the same situation and had positive experiences does make it seem better. I just hope my employers are equally supportive. I'm going to try and keep it hidden for as long as possible. I hope others in the office won't start acting funny towards me as well. Giving me all the crapy jobs because I'm going to be off on Mat leave soon.