Telling work?

[Workplaceworries]

(I've name changed for this just because..)

When did you/are you telling your employer your pregnant?
To cut a long story short I started my new job the very end of September and I was due my probationary review at the very end of December. due to some delays my review has been pushed back until the end of January (am) and I have my 12 week scan in the pm (half day holiday booked).

Would it seem totally unreasonable to tell work the day after my probationary review that I'll be going on mat leave in 6 months or whatever? (Due August)

The office I work in is very small but still very gossipy so I know the minute I tell my boss the whole office is going to know.

I'm happy to tell people at 12 weeks and my husband wants to put it on Facebook which I'm fine with as my profile is super locked down and I have no colleagues on Facebook, but I'm concerned with the atmosphere changing it work and it being a very hostile 6 months as I've only been there 4 months myself ..

Legally, you don't need to tell your employer until 15 weeks before your due date (so when you're 25 weeks pregnant). Not saying you should wait that long as it will likely be obvious well before then anyway but to let you know that you are under no obligation to tell them prior to this.

If I was you, I'd wait until after your probation meeting. It's illegal to, and employers shouldn't discriminate on the grounds of pregnancy but many do so in order to safeguard yourself against this, I would wait until your job is secure before letting them know.

I agree with above! I would wait until after your review. Although they shouldn't discriminate, unfortunately it does happen and employers will find a reason to extend probation if they want too.

Hopefully you won't have any hostility towards you when you do tell them, but definitely look after yourself in this situation!

The only way I would tell them early is if you're having a lot of time off sick etc

Hope it goes well!!

Personally in this situation I would wait until several weeks actually after my review.
I didn't tell my employer until around 20 weeks for numerous reasons, one being just timing of seeing my boss (we work on different locations), but being more confident and further along in my pregnancy, and another undoubtedly because it was post-review and post-salary review and I didn't want to give them any reason to treat me differently. The reality is it does still happen!

In a similar situation however feeling I had to inform my employer in the next few days as there are aspects of my job I shouldn’t be doing while pregnant though similar to yourself I’m concerned with the atmosphere for the next 6 months!! I just had my probation review and that was fine however generally concerned with telling them so early (8weeks) but do have to!

I'm in an office based roll so the pregnancy won't make any difference to work and I'm not high risk so it'll just be the standard MW appointments and the 20 weeks scan.

My office is small and I'm the youngest there, however I'll be the only one to have a child (I'm 24 though so not too young in my opinion) everybody seems very career focused (or just don't want/aren't ready for kids) and there's been a lot of talk recently from the 29/30 year olds "not being ready for a dog never mind a child".

Thank you for tour responses ladies. Luckily we don't have a dress code at work so I think I'll try hold off for as long as the bump does, I have plenty of big jumpers and the weathers cold enough to get away with them.

I told my current employer at my interview (I was 11 weeks). I think they appreciated the transparency and it wasn’t a problem at all.

My circumstances were that I work in a male dominated and at times cutthroat industry. My last 2 jobs had been awful environments to work in and I wanted to make sure my next employer was the right one and would be supportive. It was a risk but it paid off for me and I haven’t had to deal with the stress of the secret and sneaking around going to appointments.

In your case I think I think you’re fine to wait until after your review. 12 weeks is still early days.

Agree with PP, I’d wait a good few weeks after your probation meeting. 12 weeks is still early days. I didn’t tell most people til nearer 20 weeks. But if you don’t want to be ‘hiding’ under loose clothing etc, you should still be able to hold out until 16 weeks or so before it starts becoming obvious.