Should I tell work that I want to get pregnant?

[fluffyanimal]

This is a bit of a dilemma for me. The obvious answer would probably be NO, but the situation is this. i work at a university and my department has been through some hard times and has just been merged with another one, so we have a lot of new procedures to learn. Plus this year we will be working on a completely new curriculum for next academic year (sept 2008) so next year will be challenging too. We have just learned that one of my colleagues is about to take early retirement on health grounds so we are desperately trying to find a replacement at short notice. One other colleague is new this year and learning the ropes. The last of my colleagues has just relinquished a very stressful Head of Departmentship and has been promised a research sabbatical in sept 08. So here's the thing. DH and I want to have another baby, and as I'm not getting any younger we want to start trying soon, so if all goes to plan I'm quite likely to be on maternity leave for the sept 08 academic year. If that happens, the staff will consist of one old timer, two new colleagues and two temporary replacements for me and the one on sabbatical. Not ideal for introducing a new curriculum.

What with all the changes to the curriculum, to staffing and to admin structures (which was basically to save us from being closed down) we have a lot to prove to management, and we are constantly being asked about our plans for 08 and beyond. Should I tell my colleagues what DH and I are planning, so that they can plan accordingly, or should I leave it until / if I get pregnant? I'm feeling really guilty at the moment because they all seem to rely on me as a point of stability and as someone who knows what to do.

[NAB3]

No one is indespensible. Carry on with your plans to try for another baby and srt work out when it happens. Work is a few years. Children are forever.

[Blu]

Another 'NO' to confirm what you already know.

It is an imperative that any major planning and change process has a little contingency for staff changes and absences fro whatever reason - that is the professional responsibility of the Dept as a whole and it's leaders, not an issue for your individula personal guilt!

Also, do you really want to spend the next 6 months dealing with colleagues feeling resentful against something which may not even happen during that timescale, and marginalising you?

I speak as a boss. I always have it in mind that so-and-so could well be looking at jobs which are a step up, or so-and-so is doing all the things that spell 'next step - baby' or having a contingency for unexpected illness etc.

[ScottishMummy]

absolutley not. there is enough inadvertent discrimnation in workplace to mums to be and mums without flagging up u might have a baby, what if u get marginalised/over looked as a result. work will just have to cope

[lemonaid]

No. For all the reasons already given.

[Squiffy]

Not often that I ROFL just reading the thread title on an employment issues thread......

er, no. Their staffing problems are their problems, not yours. you have an absolute right to go off and have babies and you must not let guilt come into it.

[chocbiscuits]

No, I am a research scientist and a project mysteriously got reallocated to someone else when I said i was pg.

Loyalty don't get you nowhere in this life (sorry but bitter and twisted!)

[TotalChaos]

No way.

[toomanydaves]

no.

[lucykate]

no

think blu's post says it all really.

[HappyDaddy]

I agree, Blu said what I was thinking.

Blu, I wish you were my boss.