Email to manager about pregnancy. What to write?

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I'm going to email my manager today about my pregnancy due at the end of October. Not sure how to write it as it all seems a bit embarrassing! Hope she isn't annoyed. I'm 14 weeks so hopefully she won't be annoyed I've waited to announce it. Any advice pls.

Ringing her would be better. Just a simple "I need to let you know I'm having a baby, it's due in..."

Call before. Follow up with email cc ing in HR.

“Dear x, thank you for your time just now. Just for your records I am pregnant and due xx.
Please let me know if there are any actions I need to take regarding risk assessments and what the policy is on time out for MW appointments.
Yours, blah....’

Check what their policy is on time out for MW and antenatal appointments. Stress you will as far as possible book these to minimise disruption (beginning/end day) check if you will need a risk assessment.

I told mine in person and then followed it up with an email cc-ing in HR saying
"Dear x,
Following our conversation, I am writing to let you know that I am pregnant. My due date is x"... I also put in when I planned to take Mat leave.

Contrary to the advice above, I would not stress that I'd be trying to book appointments at specific times. You have absolutely no idea what your midwife clinic is like or what other appointments you'll need. I've had quite a lot of consultant appts this pregnancy and I would have hated to set a precedent of saying I'd book them at a certain time and not be able to.

Isn't it possible to talk first?

You really need to do this face to face if you can. I've done it twice and honestly both times were fine even though I thought my manager (different each time) might mind. The last time it was a new manager who had been there 4 weeks add was thrown into a very chaotic role and she really relied on me. She was great about it and excited for me (although she later turned out to be a complete cow and wasn't very good at accommodating my needs during pregnancy but that's life).

If it helps I have to tell my manager tomorrow and I'll be 16.5 weeks. There are various personal reasons why I haven't said anything sooner and anyone would understand why. I just know it's going to go down like a tonne of lead (for various reasons). I also know that I can't wait to tell her any longer as I'm showing and because it will really effect the business the longer I leave it. Ultimately though she can't do anything about liking it or not. My plan is to rehearse what I want to say and to then follow it up in writing once I've told her.

Good luck but honestly, just speak to your manager.

Another vote for telling her in person if you can, I waited until 16 weeks and it was fine. They're not entitled to know until 25 weeks so anything earlier is a bonus.

Email is not a good first choice of communication unless you are not able to arrange to see her face to face or to talk to her on the phone. A follow up email to a conversation is a good idea as it summarises the conversation and is a good paper trail if you ever need it.

As a pp said, make sure you read the company policy on maternity leave and appointments etc.

Congratulations!

The email from Girlwiththearabstrap is perfect. You won't have any control over the time of your midwife appointments - the service differs from area to area and unfortunately it can't accommodate early or late appointments for every woman that works.

You are legally entitled to time off for care and Maternity Action have an advise line if you suffer any discrimination as a result of your pregnancy.

Is there a particular reason why you'd like to email rather than speak to them directly? I waited until 21 weeks, fortunately I have a lot of control over my schedule so could accommodate appts, but had the chat with my manager in person.

By the way, its not embarrassing - people generally love this type of news. Congratulations!

You are legally entitled to take time off however remember the letter of the law and what companies actually try to do will differ. My start point was that I will need x number of routine antenatal appts, I will always try to minimise disruption where I can but his will not always be possible.
Verbal is nice. Email forms a paper trail that’s indisputable because it’s time stamped and there in the system. Always follow up ALL verbal communications like this with an email. I’ve been quite dispirited at how I’ve been treated as a pregnant worker even in a large professional company. Make sure you’re aware of what your company’s maternity policy is and follow it to the letter with documentation.

You really should speak to her first, either face-to-face or on the phone.

Face to face then email, if needed have HR go in with you for policies on pregnancy etc and then follow up with emails to both and save them, CC your private email in too if needed for added security.

Are you currently out of the office? If not definitely face to face. Don’t worry- 14 weeks is fine to let them know. I found it a bit weird telling my manager (and she’s lovely) as it’s a personal thing but glad I got it out of the way early.

Unless they’re completely horrible employers I’m sure they will be happy for you and start looking at how they can accommodate your appointments etc. :)

I emailed at 12 weeks, only because we were moving offices the next week and there were no meetings rooms or privacy and our team was so busy that there was hardly any downtime/opportunity. I also had my scan the following week and didn't want to lie about where I was.

I basically addressed that informing by email wasn't ideal but I wasn't sure how else to share the info. Said I was pregnant unexpectedly but happily, gave due date and said that I wanted and needed the job and planned to return, and could we get together the following week to sort out a plan. Met up the following week for a chat and everything was fine, I'd only been in job 12 weeks when I found out and was super nervous!

Agree that if you can, face to face is best. Maybe email and ask if you can set up a meeting? They may assume you're handing notice in and be happy to hear otherwise! Good luck!

I emailed after my 12 week scan as my manager is rarely in the office and I was too nervous to wait the 3 weeks until he was next in!

I started similarly to Belles86 and explained that I although I would have liked to have told him in person I didn't want to wait to tell him once I knew everything was ok. I went on to detail the next lot of appointments I'd got so he knew when I'd be out of the office.
I finished by offering to book in a meeting to discuss further when he was next in the office and thanking him in advance for his support :)

He responded positively and when I next saw him we had more of a chat about things. I'm 31 weeks now and he's been really great all the way through so it turned out there was no need to be nervous! If he had have been in the office more I'd have told him in person although I would have found this even more nerve-wracking... but I'm sure if face-to-face isn't feasible your manager will just appreciate you telling them as soon as you are comfortable to. Try not to worry about it too much, it's happy news :)

@123blackfriday This thread is 6 years old - I'd recommend starting a new thread if you need any advise so it doesn't get missed and you get responses :)