How and when to tell work

[Rockinglobstering]

I know (think) you don't have to legally disclose your pregnancy to an employer until 15 weeks.
I'm 4 weeks (ish) atm. Works party is on Dec 15th.
Obviously they will find out then, given that there is only 5 of us and the plan was to have a meal and get veryyyy drunk after.
Best way to handle this?
IDK whether to just tell them when we're buying the first rounds, or before?

I do the risk assessments for our pregnant ladies at work and have been told anywhere between 4 and 15 weeks before. I haven't heard the 15 week thing before though.

What I would say is it depends on what hazards you have in your day to day job. There are some jobs where I work that would put a pregnant lady at risk, and I tend to know about them sooner. If it's a normal office environment, tell them when you're ready. If you have the works party, why don't you be the designated driver or "on call" for some family emergency?

Legally you have to tell them 15 weeks before your due date. I told mine at 17 weeks as people were starting to ask.

Yes it's 15 weeks before your due date (25 weeks), not 15. You have to do it by then to sort all the legal gumpf around mat leave/pay. Most employers ask you to let them know as soon as possible (which is fair as they need to plan how they're going to cover the work while you're off and potentially recruit a temp or whatever) but it's totally up to you (not withstanding specific risks and the thing above re 25w).

I think a lot of people wait until after their 12 or 20 week scans. But like a previous poster said, if there's a potential risk, it's best not to leave it too late so your workplace can keep you safe.

I would have a nasty case of stomach flu and be put on antibiotics a few days before. Preferably the attached I just googled 😂

Don't feel pressured into telling work before you're ready especially not for booze. They may suspect but they won't ask.

I say 'have stomach flu'....obviously I mean fake it!!

Personally, I wouldn't tell them that early. CL1982's advice is good, I'd either use that excuse or say you're hungover from the night before and can't face booze, order gin and tonics without the gin etc etc. They'll be so busy getting pissed themselves that they won't notice.

Also agree with PP about the 15 week thing, you don't need to tell them till 25 weeks pregnant, 15 weeks before due date.

Swaying towards the antibiotics excuse, as that may be the only thing that works.. They're all really big drinkers and all of us (myself included) have been discussing getting very drunk on that night :S
Even so theyll probably still try to get me to drink..but it might work!

For sure! Just make sure you egg it a bit the day before or two. I always think don't wash your hair, scrape it back and no make up then 'go to the Doctors' and have the diagnosis made for the party ;)

It's actually pretty serious if you drink on those drugs so I suspect they'll back off if you make it clear it could dissolve your liver....

I work in a very specialist role and I knew they'd have difficulty replacing me so I told them straight away at 4 weeks. If I hadn't have told them then I would have had to have told them at 5 weeks anyway as that's when I had hyperemesis. I had a terrible miscarriage last year and they were very supportive. I work in NHS