Need to tell work about pregnancy

[OrangeRainbow]

Hi,

I am 8 weeks 5 days pregnant and hadn't planned to tell work until after my 12 week scan. However, we've had a bit of a scare this weekend and I have been bleeding, went to hospital, had a scan and all is fine thankfully.

I was told it is a threatened miscarriage which could be stress related and have been told to take some time off work. I therefore need to let my manager know I won't be in this week and this obviously means telling her about the pregnancy.

My worry is how to do this, our system for calling in sick isn't to call up, it is to submit online that you won't be in and then someone calls you back at some point to discuss. My problem with this is that sometimes it isn't your manager who calls if they are busy etc and is a deputy or more junior member of staff.

I would much rather tell my manager before others in the team if I can help it. Would it be appropriate to text or email her tonight and explain? And then ask that she call me tomorrow to discuss further?

This is stressing me out which I'm aware isn't good as I've been put under strict instructions to rest and reduce stress!

Thanks

Do you know their direct dial? Can't you not phone them directly first thing in the morning? Or email them to give them a heads up about the sickness notification and say for privacy reasons can you be the person to call me

Unfortunately not, it's just a central number where everyone has to go through reception and then be put through. But it also has members of the public calling so can often be on hold for a while.

I could email and ask her to call but I think it depends on how busy she is and if she sees the email in time. So stressful!

Why do you need to tell them about the pregnancy?

Tell them you're having some serious health issues and need some time?

Submit online as you usually do and in that submission request call from your manager/HR to discuss?

Because pregnancy related sickness doesn't count on your sickness record. Definitely tell them.

Use the sickness line and then send her an email saying could she arrange for this to be recorded as a pregnancy related absence as you’re not yet ready to tell anyone else.

You don't need to tell them. You can self certify.
"I have been advised by a Dr to take some time off work, if this exceeds the 7 days I will obtain a fit note. I would prefer not to divulge the reason. Thank you". When you need the fit note ask the gp / Dr to write gynaecological issues on it rather than specify anything.

Thanks everyone, as discussed above I'd rather tell them and have this recorded as a pregnancy related absence rather than general sickness, as then I'm more protected

@OrangeRainbow That sounds frightening, try not to worry about work. It sounds like you have a mobile number for your manager; could you give her a call first thing tomorrow on that and explain the situation? She may be able to speak to HR/whatever to manage it in a less stressful way.

I would submit it online and put that for personal reasons you would like to discuss the absence with your manager only. If there is no option to put that, or if the request is ignored and someone else calls you to discuss, just politely say that you would like to discuss this with your manager only- you don't have to disclose personal details of sickness to anyone else.