Telling employer I'm pregnant... again

[missunderstoodd]

Can I get some tips on how to tell my employer I'm pregnant again? Currently on maternity leave and was due to return in the next 1-3 months. Currently almost 20 weeks and have been so nervous about telling them! They've already reached out to ask if I have thought about when I would like to return lol.

no easy way aside from

“i appreciate this perhaps isn’t the best timing from your perspective but i am pregnant”

I think it’s better to tell them sooner rather than later, given they can ask your current maternity cover to stay on etc / have time to plan for a replacement.

Given that you're really rather pg, I'd tell them pretty darn soon! They need time to plan your replacement, or just keep on the current one, if easier for them overall, depending upon when you'd be starting ML again.

When is your due date? If your return to work should be before then perhaps you could take holiday before starting your new maternity leave. I would start planning dates and then advise them asap.

I'd tell them asap, if you might not return for another 3 months you could be 32 weeks. You would only be at work for 6-7 weeks again.

Congratulations.

Thank you for the tips!
I think if I use the holiday I have accumulated my next maternity leave would start back to back as there's 12/13 months difference between 1st baby and new baby.

I'll give them a call tomorrow to get it over with 😩

Are you fine for maternity pay without needing to have returned to be getting full pay in the qualifying weeks? If so, that’s a small benefit to them, I’d presume!

It’s just ripping the plaster off, you won’t be the first or the last. If they’re annoyed at all, it’ll probably only be because you’ve left it quite late to tell them.

It’d be useful for them to know if you’re not intending to return at all in between, they may be able to extend your maternity cover.

Congratulations!

Legally, you need to notify them by week 25 of your pregnancy.

Depending on how much you've been paid and the dates you may not be eligible for SMP again, although you do still get 52 weeks' maternity leave.

You're not the first and won't be the last to have back to back maternity leaves and in some ways it's easier for your employer as they might be able to keep on your replacement for another year rather than needing to re-recruit.

Best to be honest, it's not going away!

They'll be happy as they won't have to pay you and they'll get to hopefully keep your mat leave replacement. What you don't want to do is return to work heavily pregnant and not have told them