do I tell them I'm pregnant yet? a bit complicated.

[UselessEmployee]

There's a bit of a backstory. Bear with me.

Back in September, with the sterling assistance of MN, I appealed against an attempt to sack me for taking too much sick leave due to serious illness. However, the victory soon turned hollow as those involved in the plan to get rid of me turned really petty and nasty and made working there absolute hell.

Senior management and HR have responded by reorganising the way the department in structured and reconfiguring and my immediate line management to allow me to avoid any of those who were giving me hassle. If I were being cynical I could say this is partly a ploy to avoid me claiming disability discriminatin and constructive dismissal. However, I think there has been some real contrition and goodwill involved, as well as a genuine desire to keep me working there. There's a meeting Friday to discuss and finalise the arrangements,

What they don't yet know is that I'm pregnant. I found out in the midst of all the drama so am now 16 weeks and in no danger of showing yet.

I know that I don't need to tell them until 25 weeks, but I suspect that I will need to start maternity leave early at 30ish weeks due to the impact of my health on the pregnancy, which wouldn't allow them long to plan/prepare for my absence. However, I'm reluctant to tell them too early in case I lose the baby. I don't have a history of miscarriage, but I know that if I were to have one and they were to know, I would get such an unsympathetic response that I would prefer not to have to tell them.

So, should I tell them on Friday that I'm pregnant, even though I'm not yet legally required to? Or should I hold off and wait until the last possible moment?

And if I do tell them now, can management withdraw the new working arrangements on the ground that they didn't know I was about to go on maternity leave? If they did, would it be discrimination?

I'm pretty sure they can't withdraw any working agreement made. Do you have it in writing? Is there a review date?

Also what are the reasons for leaving so early? With a company that had treated me so badly I would be leaving at 36wks and if I had health problems relating to pregnancy I would take sick leave.

Not considered entirely ethical by some though.

Good point about getting things in writing, at the moment I've had nothing. But I'll make sure Friday's meeting is minuted, if only by me.

Good point too about the maternity leave. In any case, I'll see how the pregnancy goes. I wasn't planning to take the full paid entitlement, so it'd probably come to the same thing as sick leave anyway.

Given the history I certainly wouldn't be telling them. Yes it might seem wrong, and petty and dishonest of you; however this is your baby. Any other incident in your office is going to increase your stress levels, impact on your mental health (possibly also your physical health depending on what your condition is) and risk your baby.

For this reason I personally would tell them at the last possible date I could get away with. What's the worst that could happen ?

The worst?

The urgent imperative for public sector efficiency savings could unavoidably render my post redundant, making it impossible to prove bullying or discrimination.

But yes, I'd rather lose my job than go through any more stress.

Hmmm.