When do I tell work?

[Muddledandunsure]

Found out I was pregnant last weekend. I think I'm about 5-6 weeks.

I haven't seen the midwife yet.

I'm suffering badly with morning sickness, actually all day but much much worse in the morning. I had to call in sick yesterday because I couldn't stop being sick. I'm sooooo tired as well and keep getting dizzy.

My job is very physical and long hours, on my feet and no chance for breaks except for lunch time.

When do I tell work? I didn't want to tell them just yet in case something goes wrong but I can't keep having time off, I'll end up being sacked.

If you feel that bad I would do it sooner rather than later time off ill for pregnancy cant go against your sickness record. I told my boss at 7 weeks for similar reasons. You also may need a risk assessments if it it a demanding job! Congrats!

Thanks, I may tell them next week then.

They cannot make reasonable adjustments to your work if they do not know about your PG. And PG related sickness does not 'count' but cannot be considered in that way if they do not know about it being PG related.

It's horrible when you are very sick/nauseous, and although I completely get your reasons for wanting to keep it under wraps for longer, I think that if your re needing a lot of time off and/or need to secure more breaks, you have no option but to tell them.

What is your workplace like? Is there any way you can inform a couple of key people but not go public to everyone?

Im wondering if I just tell my boss and ask her to keep it quiet. I suppose other members of staff won't be able to make adjustments if they don't know though.

I told around 7/8 weeks because I was sick and off work. They were fine about it.

Last time I was 14 weeks I think but I didn't have morning sickness and the job was different.

I told work at about 8 weeks as I had to fly somewhere and wanted to make sure they had insurance. I'd tell them soon - maybe just HR or your manager - and then they'll be able to help you

Thanks, I'm going to tell them next week.

It depends a lot on the nature of the job really. I imagine if you have the type of job where you are just sat at a desk all day and not doing anything risky then you can wait until after the first scan.
If you are in a very physical job then you will need to tell your manager ASAP as there may be certain jobs that you will no longer be allowed to do (e.g. lifting and carrying, working at height etc).
For my job, I work in a pharmacy and have to inform by boss and any other pharmacists that I work with as there are certain drugs which it would be dangerous for me to handle.
Plus, it means that you can work together to find ways of managing your sickness while at work. For example, I got a stool so that I could perch on it for a few minutes when working at the same position for longer periods of time. Also, later in pregnancy I managed to change my lunch hour into several 15 minute breaks throughout the day so that I could catnap :)

There's lots of bending, lifting, and carrying involved. Not sure how I can do my job without doing any of those.

I told my boss when I asked for time off for first m/w appointment (at week 7 a week after I'd found out) because she was concerned something was wrong. She was very excited but has managed to keep it a secret. I felt fine for the first few weeks but felt very ill this Monday (8 and a half weeks) on my way in so told my close team (to explain why I was late and in case I was sick). Thought they would have guessed as I have given up coffee and am drinking mint tea! They knew I was trying and have been very excited although a little worried I think as I'll be going on Mat Leave half way through the school year (I'm nursery teacher and we struggle to get supply).

If you're off because of bad sickness and/or have a v physical job then you should definitely tell them. I managed to hide it until about 17 weeks first time, but I had a sedate office job, my own office to hide in, and although I felt appalling I wasn't sick just very, very nauseated.

Hi Muddle, congrats and sorry you're feeling rough.

I'm also in a very physical job (horticulture) and I told my boss almost straight away for various reasons. Avoiding the heavy lifting was one but we also spray chemicals, have contact with sheep, work at height, use machinery etc.. And I was suffering really badly with ms :-(

So far it is only my boss, his boss and HR that know. The rest of the team think my back isn't so good at the moment. And that I had a stomach bug! I'll tell them at 12 weeks / when I've had my scan.

We had to do the standard company 11 page risk assessment for pregnant employees. My boss then had to do a supplementary 3 page one specific to my role!

From all this paperwork I was very reassured in several ways. Basically they have to make reasonable adjustment to your role or offer you another one, they can't cut your pay, if you can't do your role and they don't have an alternative they have to let you go on full paid leave etc.. Reasonable adjustments also includes extra breaks for frequent toilet breaks, catnaps etc.. So, I'd get on and tell them!

Once they know they have to support you and cannot penalise you for time off. So do tell your HR manager. They have to keep it secret.

I've told my boss because I'm going to need time off for fortnightly scans and I thought it best to tell her in case she questioned every other Friday morning off! I'm 7 weeks today.

I'm going to tell my boss Wednesday when I'm next in. I've got a midwife appointment next Thursday so will have to have time off for that or my shift moved.