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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

telling work - confusion

21 replies

MrsGiraffe12 · 14/01/2014 20:58

Am I right in thinking that legally I do not have to tell my boss until the 15th week before my baby is due (so 25 weeks)?

In my handbook from work it says I am required to tell them as soon as I know im pregnant.

Seeing as I signed my contract am I legally required to tell them or can I wait until 12 weeks? I had a mmc last may so scared to tell yet.

Thanks in advance

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ilovepowerhoop · 14/01/2014 21:00

tell them whenever you feel comfortable - depending on the type of job you may want to tell them sooner rather than later as they will have to do a risk assessment due to the pregnancy

BikeRunSki · 14/01/2014 21:03

You can tell your line manager and no one else. Line manager may gave a duty to tell HR and / or head of dept, but no need to tell anyone else who doesn't need to know.

Notfastmainlyfurious · 14/01/2014 21:07

My work contract stated asap but I only put in my notification to hr after my 12 week scan. I haven't actually told my colleagues yet and I'm 17 weeks now. I too had a previous mc and want to get a clear 20 week scan first (starting to show now so this may not be possible) tell them when you feel comfortable.

Original poster

MrsGiraffe12 · 14/01/2014 21:08

Hmmmm I may tell my boss. Ive been there less than 6 months though and am worried when I tell them they will find some other reason to get rid of me. Im guessing its best to put it in writing straight away so they cannont deny knowledge x

OP posts:

Catypillar · 14/01/2014 21:10

How will they know when you found out?

lj123 · 14/01/2014 21:13

I am currently 8 weeks 4 days and I personally told my workplace at 7 weeks because I work with young children and lift them etc, I have also had 4MC and 1 ectopic so I would rather they where aware personally incase I needed time off at all or any contagious illnesses where going round.
You don't have to tell them yet.

Original poster

MrsGiraffe12 · 14/01/2014 21:15

Thats true :-) scary the thought of telling boss haha xx

OP posts:

callamia · 14/01/2014 21:15

I wonder if 'as soon as you know' is about sorting out a timely risk assessment? I think at my work, I was supposed to have my chair/desk/activities checked for pregnancy compatibility. It had nothing to do with HR recording it, or leave taken, or anything aside from checking for potential risks.

Original poster

MrsGiraffe12 · 14/01/2014 21:21

My job involves long periods on my feet and some lifting, occasionally heavy. Im just the first in my department that this has happened to (new company) so im nervous x

OP posts:

lj123 · 14/01/2014 21:37

I wouldn't be too worried just do what you feel comfortable, I've only worked at this place for 3 and a half months lol x

whereisshe · 14/01/2014 21:41

My work policy encourages women to tell them as soon as possible, but recognises that legally 25 weeks is when they have to be informed. Do what makes you comfortable, as legally they can't make you tell them earlier than 25 weeks. Personally I told a senior woman at work that I trusted fairly early on, and asked for her advice on how to manage it politically. Is there someone you trust at work that you can ask for advice?

cookiemonster5678 · 14/01/2014 21:49

If you are happy to keep it a secret for a while (i.e no risk assessment/understanding if you are ill etc) then do so.

You could fib and tell them you found out later than you did, or be honest and say you needed time to think/ensure all is well.
I think employment law will over ride their policy anyway

MissSlackPants84 · 14/01/2014 22:03

You dont legally have to tell them before 25 weeks. As others have said it may be in contract to tell them asap for risk assessment reasons. Im petrified about telling work. Im just over 13 weeks and only been working for them for 11 weeks

Nugget1984 · 15/01/2014 07:27

I'm 8+2 (I think! Have first midwife appointment today!)

I'm thinking it depends on your job and how comfortable you are telling them. I told my boss a few weeks ago as I work around chemotherapy (which I am no longer allowed to handle). My boss was fantastic and completed a risk assessment within a few days! Turns out I was worrying about telling her for no reason! (Plus it's nice to have someone to talk to when I'm feeling rubbish - ha! )

HopeS01 · 15/01/2014 07:48

I didn't tell mine until 24 weeks!
Like others have said, probably best to get a risk assessment done if your job involves long periods of standing and heavy lifting.
Good luck and don't worry!

Plateofcrumbs · 15/01/2014 08:21

Unless your work involves specific risks, I think it is completely unreasonable for them to expect you to inform them before most people would have told family and friends.

At 12 or even 20 weeks they would still have more notice than most people would have to provide if they were to resign.

juju283 · 15/01/2014 13:52

I told mine after 12 week scan. I never even considered letting them know before this. I think many people wait until then. Plus they don't do anything about it or organise your maternity leave fot ages until you get your matb1 form which is around 24 weeks I think?!

allduffedup · 15/01/2014 22:51

I had the same thing - the handbook said to tell them as soon as possible. Plus there are some hazards where I work that I might need to avoid, and I wanted to be able to be honest about midwife appointments. So I told my line manager at 6+2 (was happy to do this as I trust her and knew she would be happy for me). She told me to go to occupational health, until she realised it was still really early and then told me that I didn't need to tell anyone yet if I didn't want to, and that HR wouldn't get involved until much later on. So basically I felt a bit stupid for telling her after that!

BEEwitched · 16/01/2014 00:35

I told work as soon as I knew, so at about 3 weeks - it was just as well as I've been off sick since week 8 now - but they never bothered with a risk assessment. To be fair, they probably just didn't get sorted in time...

Our maternity provision allows you to keep it to yourself for as long as you're comfortable, though...

RaRa1988 · 16/01/2014 09:01

I told work at only 5 weeks because I knew from experience that I was going to end up suffering badly with sickness. As it was, I ended up with HG, so it's a good job I told them. Obviously it's up to you, but your pregnancy-related sickness can only be 'wiped' IF they know you're pregnant at the time.

So far, only the managers who need to know, my partner (obv!), and one of the nurses who helped me when I was poorly know at work. I won't be letting others know until after my 20-week scan next week.

IrisWildthyme · 16/01/2014 09:24

if you don't tell them as soon as you know then they can't be held liable if your health or the health of your child is adversely affected if they get you to carry out a task which they wouldn't have got you to do if they had known. if that's not likely to be an issue for you, feel free to keep it secret. not that I'm suggesting you would be, but until 24 weeks you could reasonably be considering abortion in which case your employers have no need to know anything about it if you choose not to tell them, so it is perfectly reasonable to keep quiet about it until 25 weeks.

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