Telling work I’m pregnant

[amyyy333]

Hi everyone I was just wondering if anyone had been in a similar situation to me.
I work in a childcare setting up north. I have been at my job since early February and found out I’m 12 weeks pregnant . I qualify for maternity pay. My manager hasn't been very nice to another pregnant lady who has gone to a union. I’m scared of telling her incase she reacts and treats me in the same way until I leave.i don’t know how it’s best to tell them or when it’s best .
Tia

Hi! I also work in childcare. Your employer should not treat you any differently regardless. And you should seriously take action if this does happen. Make sure you know your rights. Your hospital appointments if through work hours are paid and they are not breaks either! So if you have an appointment and gone for say an hour and a half if they were running late this is not your break. My old nursery did this to me and I still had 7hours to work! That’s not right in itself let alone at 34 weeks pregnant!
Make sure they do a risk assessment for you.
If your manager treats you wrong you need to go above her. Is your manager also the proprietor?? Xx

Join the union

I’m 19 weeks tomorrow and I wrote to my manager and the owner separately outlining my pregnancy. I told them about 10 weeks as I knew my scan would be through work hours and 1) I didn’t want to lie about why I needed time off and 2) why should I lose money when you’re paid for appointments! I bound them to the confidentiality policy as my family were not aware at the time. I’m 5 month pregnant and still no one at work knows! Im finding it funny! I’m term time only so I’m lucky that so far my appointments have fallen in school hols. Do you have a new and expectant mum policy? If you do make sure you have a really good read of it! They should have one and if they don’t you need to find out why they don’t! X

Yes my manager is my owner too , this is the only thing holding me back from enjoying my pregnancy . Shall I tell them now so they have more time to replace me or tell them later so that if they are funny it’s less time to put up with it .

They have a maternity policy, would that be the same thing

Should be the same thing Amy, what does it say?

@amyyy333 what does that policy say? You don’t have to tell them until 15 weeks before your due date I don’t think but you might have to if you need time off for appointments. That’s what made me have to tell them.
If your manager/owner is being unfair or not abiding her policy I suggest you speak to ACAS xx

@DerbyshireGirly there’s nothing in it that I don’t qualify for. For example I’ve been there over the 26 weeks to get smp, they say to tell them as soon as I feel ready so risk assessments can be done, and to be paid for time off for appointments. But still they didn’t do this for another lady

Seconding the suggestion to speak to ACAS. My HR knowledge is fairly limited but I think in reality you have very little protection until you've been with your employer for two years. The law says all the right things on paper but actually proving you've been treated unfairly because of pregnancy is another thing entirely. Hopefully it never comes to that and they look after you, but get some proper advice so you know where you stand.

If she’s not doing it then you need to seek advice from ACAS. I don’t think she would want to be sued for something happening because she was being unfair and not following basic maternity rights! Employers are great at writing these wonderful policies and procedures for ofsted’s sake but then don’t adhere to them! Crazy! Xx