Returning to work when pregnant

[La22]

Hi
I'm 5 weeks pregnant and am due to be returning back to the office in a couple of weeks time. Our companies policy is that if you are pregnant you should continue to work from home. I'm in a pickle because I really don't want to disclose the fact that I am pregnant as it's so early on, we haven't even told family and friends yet, but I just don't know what to do about returning to work. I had covid about 3 months ago and do regular lateral flow testing so have a bit of peace of mind in that respect. Can I just ask what you guys would do in my situation?

Many thanks

When ideally would you tell work? What's the gap between when you'd return and when you'd tell them?

If you're happy to return I think it's fine to do so until you're ready to disclose to work you're pregnant, and if that's two months down the line the work situation might change any way.

Congratulations

Well obviously you can't have it both ways. I told work early as it was affecting my work: If you don't want to go back to work then you need to tell them.

Personally I would continue working from home if it is an option.

Also lateral flow testing won't stop you from getting covid. It will just mean you know sooner when you do.

@La22 the government guidelines are currently that we now only need to shield from 28 weeks I believe. That may also be dependant on your job, I’m not sure.
I work in the nhs so I’m hiding away for the first 3 months too out of personal choice as I’m not willing to take any risks (and I have an amazing supportive manager, I am working from home).

If maybe have a private conversation with your boss if you’re not sure and see what they can suggest x

I really feel for you as that is very early, but I would err on the side of caution and give your manager a heads up in a phone call, that way they can be aware without necessarily making it official.

Depends on the nature of your work and how you're feeling tbh- I work in a school so I didn't go back when the school did as my risk assessment wasn't just quite high for covid, but I can do the majority of my work from home so just pop in when I need to. It's been a good compromise but if I'd worked in a low risk environment and felt well I probably would have wanted to go back into work for the normality to be honest! Bouncing from maternity leave to lockdown to a brief return to another lockdown then WFH then another maternity is going to make it hard for me to go back into a 'proper' work patten in time, I'm sure, but I'll figure it out.

Depends on your role and whether you’d feel comfortable going back.

At 5 weeks some women don’t even realise they’re pregnant yet so if you did want to return without disclosing your situation yet, you could do. You could give it a few weeks and then let them know when you feel more at ease in telling them.

The guidelines state that you should work from home from 28 weeks currently, but again I guess this depends on your role.

I work in a school and have been in throughout, and will continue to work until we break up for the summer break, when I will be 30 weeks.

I work in the NHS and will be in work until 28 weeks.

I guess it depends on the risk assessment at work? On what basis do they think you should WFH?

Given the current environment in your shoes I would tell them. You are about to hit morning sickness/ tiredness stage and working from home would be much better?

Unless there is some other logic - ie promotion/payrise decision looming?

With my second pregnancy I wanted to wait till 12 weeks as I had just returned from Mat leave. I didn't want to tell work early incase something happened. The logic being I wouldn't have to tell them I was pregnant. Sadly I lost that babu and needed time off so still ended up telling them.

I told my boss at 4 weeks at I had to tell him I was doing IVF to get the time off with no questions asked.

When I told him at 4 weeks I said I'll officially tell you later on, so I haven't filled in any paperwork, it's just between me and him.

@La22 I was the same. I told my boss at 4 weeks and he was very supportive. Tell your boss so a plan can be put in place

You might want to consider whether you’ll be happy to work from home for the next 8 months while everyone is back at work? There’s no evidence to suggest that there’s any risk from covid in the first or second trimester and in terms of mental health that’s quite a long time to be at home! However if you don’t feel comfortable going in and your work have said all pregnant women can work from home then I would tell them! I think I told my work at 8 weeks as I work in a school so in a high risk environment and I just wanted to feel as safe as I could. You only need to tell HR and your boss no one else needs to know you could just say you’re higher risk or something. It didn’t really change anything for me as school policy is to work from home only from 28 weeks but I felt better having told them x