Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Keeping it a secret at work?

3 replies

rathernotshare · 28/09/2020 21:23

Let me start this thread by saying I'm not pregnant, and I know I'm getting ahead of myself, however we have been trying for quite a while and my husband and I have spoken about what I would want to do in regards to telling people (this will probably change when the time comes but let's be hypothetical!)

I would have no issue with telling my manager. However, I would prefer not to tell my employees until I absolutely had to. All of my employees are middle aged men, I work in a male dominated industry and I really would not want to be treated differently. I have been asking to get a 'second me' for a while, so I don't think anyone would connect the dots if a temporary position the same as mine opened up. I also don't want anyone trying to push me out, as I know a few of them are after my job and would not hesitate to say I wasn't up to the task (quite bitter about a younger female taking the role) and I would want to return afterwards. We are also home workers, so wouldn't have to physically hide a bump. However, is this possible? Is there some kind of law or rule that I have to tell my direct reports by a certain week? My family live real far away so there's no chance they would find out unless I told them. Previously, there was a guy that retired and no one except his manager knew until after he had left!

Just after experiences really of anyone who managed to keep it low key!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Oatmilk1 · 28/09/2020 21:30

No law about when to tell your direct reports.
I didnt until about 28w and many general colleagues have no idea still and I am at 33w.

Only law/requirement is about telling your employer by 25w to enable you to get mat leave etc.

RustyCat · 28/09/2020 21:31

I am keeping mine fairly hush hush at the moment. I don't plan on telling my manager until I have too which is when I am 15 weeks, this is for them to arrange my mat leave.

The bonus with working from home means I can keep it quiet from my colleagues as well as no one will see bump get bigger.

Poppy10121 · 28/09/2020 22:20

You need to tell your employer by 15 weeks before due date for maternity leave but I’m sure you could ask them to keep it quiet if you want to. After a miscarriage earlier this year I don’t really want to share the news far and wide so if all goes well this time I’m planning to tell my boss around 16 weeks and ask him to not tell anyone else. I think it’ll be easy to hide while WFH.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread