Do I have to tell my employer I've had the baby

[horseynewmum]

I'm currently 31+2 weeks and on ML. I've been signed off work most of pregnancy due to pregnancy related illness which would have affected my abiltiy to do my job safely. My employers and fellow staff through out this pregnancy having been saying they dont believe I'm pregnant and I'm just being lazy and have not offered help or support to maybe enable a return to work.

So now I'm on ML I got a letter with last pay slip wishing me a enjoyable pregnancy and an easy birth and to please inform them when I have the baby, weight, sex etc so they can inform other staff.

So my question is do I by law have to give them these details. I'm going to send a polite letter saying baby arrived safely but I dont see why I have to tell them the whys, whats, wheres as they have given me enough grief through pregnancy I dont feel I want to share this happy moment with them

I think you have to tell them that you've had the baby, because of maternity period, but you're right, you don't have to tell them anything else (and why should you when they've been such twats about it! )

What are your maternity leave arrangements? Are you getting anything contractual i.e. in addition to stat maternity pay? Iirc I was supposed to tell my work the date of the baby's birth as I had a certain amount of time (12 weeks) paid at half pay from when the baby was born, it may have been different for me though.

Btw are you thinking of going back? They sound awful.

I'm getting MA from government no SMP from employer

I'm not going to go back due to the way I've been treated. They did try and dismiss me while off sick but cause I'm pregnant I've been protected by law so not going to be welcomed back with open arms.

as far as I know (and I'm not an employment lawyer) you would only have to tell them about date you gave birth if you hadn't gone on maternity leave yet. This is because maternity leave cannot start later than the day you gave birth. If you are already on mat leave there should be no reason at all for you telling them anything. Sounds like you're better off out of there anyway!
good luck

As the others have said, just tge fact you have had the baby. Personally a note saying tge baby arrived safey on xxx, is all I would be sending.

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your lo. Now forget those twats and get back to tge fun

Have they been watching too many episodes of Glee, where Mr Schuster's wife fakes a pregnancy for a while?! I certainly wouldn't be telling them any more about the baby than the statutory requirement, why the hell should you share the details with them when according to them the baby doesn't exist?

Hope you have a peaceful final few months of your pregnancy now. Good luck!

I would be looking for a new job, never mind telling them about the baby!

Thank you all for the replies. I'l just send a polite letter stating baby arrived safely on such a date and they ca stick the rest the info where the sun dont shine.
Re not believing I was pregnant this was until I sent the MAT1 form then they went quiet. They were asking for proof when I was 12 weeks (even a scan pic). Bit that makes me laugh it was my supervisor who guessed I was pregnant before I had it confirmed by doctor.

I'm going to enjoy my baby when it arrives as its more important

Thanks again x

I read that as a polite letter that included " you can stick it..." which I think would be really fun :)

If they gave been tossers I would do as you plan and send a letter (no call) saying "my baby arrived on xxx and is doing very well, regards". You are not obliged to tell them anything.

Sorry in my sleep deprived state thought you'd had the baby

Tiago, love it. "I write to advise that the baby has been born and that you can stick the rest of the info where the sun don't shine. Yours sincerely, horseynewmum".

I can't for the life of me imagine why they wanted proof at 12 weeks (or why you told them for that matter, but perhaps it wasn't obvious they were going to prove to be such utter gits).

I also thought you had already had your baby!

Have you been put on early mat leave due to beig on sick leave?

Work will need to know your babys DOB and we ask for a copy of the birth certificate to be sent as proof so correct leave can be calculated.

You have received a general maternity letter, it is polite to sound like they care about weight, gender and general well being but you don't have to do it, you can get someone to send an email/text to your supervisor letting them know your baby has arrived and then they should make your payroll dept aware on your behalf.

First of all want to appoligise for any misunderstanding, re-reading my OP I can see why many of you thought I had the baby. I've not had it yet.

Re why I informed employer of pregnancy before I legally had to was because of the nature of my work and Health and Safety issues that would/could of affected pregnancy and also I didnt think they would be gits to.

I choose to take ML from 11 weeks due to pregnancy related illness plus to stop harrassement from work.

We leave I've had a letter stating my return to work is such a date (even tho not going back).

Thank you all for advice that has put my mind at ease x