How did you go about telling work your pregnant?

[anniz91]

I am very worried about this.

I am now approaching 14 weeks and I still haven't found the courage to tell work I am pregnant mainly because I have 3 months left of my probation.

How did you guys approach this? What did you say?

You're only obligated to tell them 15 weeks before the due date.

I just told mine after I'd had the 12 week detailed scan.

Small firm. Called my manager and the owner and asked if they were free for 5mins and told them at the same time, that way there was no wriggle room for them to say anything inappropriate (I don't they they would have really, but I was so worried!).

I told them on a Thursday, the owner doesn't work Fridays. Someone said they usually break bad news to him just before a weekend so he has time to think it over.

The expectation is worse than the reality. If it's stressing you then get it done so you can stop worrying about it.

You have more protection while pregnant, they'd need to collect more proof fail your probation lest they be accused of discrimination.

Good luck op and congratulations! It's an amazing roller coaster.

I think you have to remember that this is a big exciting life event that most people experience, have experienced or are hoping to experience and although it seems daunting to you to tell them most people are actually happy or at least understanding of these things.

im 17 weeks though and haven’t told anyone yet except my partner let alone work, I will have to soon as I’m starting to get a bump now, I haven’t told them as I’m worried what they’ll say it’s just I havent wanted to share the news with anyone yet due to my own anxieties. You don’t actually have to tell them till 15 weeks before you plan to take Mat leave x

I emailed HR after my 12 week scan and they just said to let them know what my plans were after I got my MATB1 form that you get at your 22/24 week appointment usually

@justanotherlaura did you not have to disclose it to your boss?

@Jaaxe I need to let them know soon, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving it too late since it requires other people changing plans.

I feel more anxious about the fact that I still have a few months left of probation but the longer I wait it means they can't take my maternity leave into account when it comes to planning. Just feel the same what other people might think "oh she just got this job and then gets pregnant" 😶

@anniz91 sorry forgot about that bit, my manager found out about an hour after getting a positive result, she knew about my early miscarriage 8 weeks earlier so she was someone I could tell that wasn't my family. Really helped in weeks 6-8 when I couldn't leave my bed for the nausea!

@anniz91 How did you get on telling your work? X

Are they happy with your performance so far? They absolutely cannot discriminate against you because you’re pregnant otherwise you can literally sue them. I had to tell my work when I was just 7 weeks pregnant because the sickness was so bad so I could only WFH (2.5 hr train commute each way). I was also worried about Covid because there had been another spike around that time (I’m 36 weeks now). I told my manager and HR over email because that’s what I felt most comfortable doing. Just tell them when you’re ready. Don’t feel rushed. ‘Employees must tell their employer about the pregnancy at least 15 weeks before the beginning of the week the baby is due.’ - this is from GOV so you have plenty of time. Best of luck. Unless you work for an extremely unreasonable, inhumane (and frankly illegal!) company, they will treat you as any other employee X

I told my boss I'd be back in six weeks and I was!

I told my work when I was 12 weeks, at the end of the day you're within every right to want a baby / be pregnant so they're not allowed to discriminate against this. I'm taking 6 months which I've told them but I wanted to give them enough notice so that they could cover me x