Calling in sick - should I announce pregnancy at the same time?

[Lagirl20]

Hi, I’m 9 weeks with my first baby and the nausea is killing me. It’s constant and miserable and I can’t keep working through it any more. I want to call in sick tomorrow and take a few days off to rest and see if it improves. As I’m only 9 weeks my work don’t know I’m pregnant yet.

Should I tell my manager I’m pregnant when I call in sick, so that the sickness is counted as pregnancy-related and not normal sickness? If I don’t let them know, and I tell them at 12 weeks, I’m assuming I won’t be able to retrospectively have this absence changed from normal sickness to protected pregnancy sickness? Hope this makes sense - need advice! Thanks 😊

Fully depends on you employment type, contract and relationship with your employer. Are they the type to be pissed your pregnant, will you loose hours? You don’t have to tell them why your sick. Just get a sick note. Unless there is some benefit to you telling them I personally wouldn’t at this stage, but that’s just me.

You can get sickness type retrospectively changed so if you don’t want to tell them, don’t

Oh I didn't know this.

But i was Gona say I would tell them. Firstly because they cannot use pregnancy related sickness against you. And secondly because when you do go back they can risk assess you.

I mean I didn't know what LH1987 said about retrospectively changing it!

Thanks so much. I have no real concerns about telling them I am pregnant and would much rather have the protection that them knowing gives me. I’m just conscious it’s very early. Thanks all!

If it's just a few days off you don't need a sick note and can self certify for the first 5 days.
You could tell your work you don't feel right and can't stop being sick. (Technically not a lie) that gives you a week to hopefully feel better and to decide wither to tell your work or not.
(I personally told my manager about 7weeks each time but he could be trusted)

I was in the very same position as you. I told them at my back to work interview. ..well I basically burst into tears. my line manager was brilliant and I decided to tell my team there and then, though it was early days..people are far more understanding if they know what's happening ..I was glad I did as I had a lot of time off due to HG.

I ended up telling people around 7 weeks with both of mine due to terrible sickness. Was in secure job and allowed them to support and manage my workload

I told my manager at work early but not officially HR until after 12 weeks.

With my first I was travelling a lot and feeling sick all the time. I told my manager just so she knew and could help me a bit with resting and ducking out if I thought I'd be sick.

With my second I had a huge bleed one morning and needed to go to a&e so kinda had to tell

@Lagirl20 I told my manager at about 5 weeks as I was struggling with 1st trimester symptoms. But as it was super early, I asked them to keep it to themselves and then told the rest of my colleagues after the 12 week scan. It is also good for a manager to know early on, as they can put together your workplace risk assessment - the other staff don't need to know yet, just make it clear you want it kept confidential until you are ready to tell everyone x

So yeah in response to your question, I would suggest telling your manager when you call in sick, but like I said, just ask them to keep it to themselves. At least someone is aware then, so it gets the ball rolling and also means your sickness can be counted as pregnancy related

I told my manager at 8 weeks in case i needed time off but didn't tell HR til after my 20 week scan.

If your manager will be understand then i'd tell them as pregnancy related absences are protected and should not count against you for any performance management etc