How & when (how many weeks) did you tell your work you were pregnant?
Im almost into my 2nd tri-mester now and was thinking about letting my work know when I come back after Xmas hols. Ive taken a few weeks off over Xmas & will be well & truly 'showing' by the time I get back, Im having trouble hiding it now. I had a mc right around this stage earlier in the year which is why Im waiting untill after Xmas, it should put me at about 17weeks by then and Ill feel a lot more confident. But it means that the last time my PG was officially confirmed was my scan at 11 weeks
So when did you tell your work? How many weeks were you?
And what did you say exactly?
I mean did you sit your boss down and tell them you would be needing to take maternity leave this year coz you're pregnant? Did you see your boss/supervisor first? or your HR department if you have one?
I'd told a couple of friends at work almost straight away and had planned to wait til 12 or 13weeks, but with my regular dashes to the bathroom at 3pm I thought it best to tell my boss at 10 weeks before others started working it out (cause they were already looking at me with an suspicion)...this was pretty much the same with both pregnancies.
So I asked to speak to my boss in private...told him...which he then was so happy for me/us cause he knew our issues in TTC #1 (had a bit of time off here and there). I then announced it to everyone else at the next morning meeting. As for HR- i didn't get in touch (well my manager arranged that anyway) until i knew my leaving dates, which i think was about early 3rd trimester. Though my position is fairly easy to replace so there was no big rush (work in a bank).
I told my boss at 12 weeks, and officially applied for mat leave at 35 weeks. (I started it at 36 weeks). Have a look at any stuff your workplace has around mat leave entitlements and that will give you guidelines as to when they want to be told, however giving them ample time to plan will be appreciated.
Everyone at my work knew by 9 weeks but that was because they all knew we were going through IVF (so they were all waiting for me to get big boobs!) and I had trouble hiding the morning sickness and weight-gain. Their response was very positive.
Other people at my work have announced their pregnancies to the boss in a private conversation, and then announced it in a staff meeting or by email to everyone else.
One friend didn't tell her work until she was about 22 weeks and well and truly showing.
My boss announced her pregnancy when she was about 16 weeks pregnant. There's no problem with that BUT everyone had already worked it out because she was really showing and so the gossip had started before she'd announced it. I think if I was showing I'd be wanting to make the announcement myself rather than wait for everyone to start gossiping, iykwim?
I would suggest a private meeting with the boss and then a general announcement once you're ready. I can imagine you're nervous given your previous loss. Take your time, do it when you're comfortable. Oh, and remember that the chances are that your boss will understand why you're nervous and want to set your mind at ease.
My boss picked it first!! I saw him on Monday, found out on the Wednesday, told him that arvo with his response I knew it you looked different and were more tires then normal on monday
Told the remaining staff at about 10 weeks although most had guessed it. My boss followed up with hr in relation to leave. I wa scheduled to go at 35 weeks however bubba had other ideas and came at 30 weeks
I told my boss at 13/14wks, and I said... I really don't know how to tell you this, but I'm pregnant too (at the time, we had one who'd just had a little girl end September, another due Nov - she had a little boy, another due January, and me due March... There really must be something in the water!) She just laughed. I thought it was the best time.. I wanted to wait longer, but everyone was due for performance review, so I got my review - and then told her.
I officially applied for Maternity leave the other day. We had to have our application in 10 wks before we want to start. Maternity leave is due to start at the beginning 34wks on 25 January.
DH and I run our own business along side the inlaws so they knew early on in my pregnancy that I was UTD. I worked 10-12 hour days (with only a day off a week here and there) up until 38 weeks.... Not fun!
I was 4.5 weeks & had come in late after a doctors appt to confirm. I walked in, boss (owner) was there & he said 'So, are you pregnant or not?' I was totally confused, thought my (immediate) boss must have told him as I had told her why I was going...I said 'actually...yes...' & he just about fell over, he was just kidding
He then told everyone on the afternoon delivery run. So i never really had to make an announcement.
I think as Kazbah a private meeting with your boss first. It will probably be much easier than you think good luck!
I asked to speak to the owner and my Chef and told them that I was about 6 weeks pregnant, and how did they want to handle it. (I had only been working there 4 weeks, and was hired as a long term prospect, unaware I was pregnant, so it was a big shock to them as well and disruptive of their business plans)
Anyway, I would have told them so early anyway as it really does affect the way I can perform my job (chef). So it meant everyone knew what was going on, and as I worked 6 days a week, 16 hour days, meant they knew why I needed time off for appointments etc.
I would be seriously considering the way you worded "I will be needing maternity leave this year because I am pregnant"... not sure of your personal situation, what is included in your contract/award etc, but if someone told me they were pregnant like that I would find it exceptionally rude.
First time around I told my boss as soon as we knew and it spread like wildfire through the shopping mall I worked in. When I m/c , that news didn't spread along the same grapevine, so I got a lot of comments like "Gee, you're not showing yet" and the like, which really pushed my emotional buttons. Second time around, I swore I was saying nothing.....but two days after I found out, I got a promotion with a lot of costly training involved and my boss was talking about my long term position. I promptly burst into tears and told her. She was great, still wanted me to keep going and didn't tell anybody until I did at 14 weeks. I continued to work until three weeks before my due date, and in hindsight, it wasn't early enough.
I told my boss at 12 weeks, the week after my scan. I couldn't handle the thought of telling everyone and then having something go wrong, so I needed it confirmed first. I know if I'd had holidays and told them at 17 weeks they wouldn't have had a problem though, that's still plenty of time to find a replacement for maternity leave.
I called my boss on the Monday morning (he's based in Adelaide and manages staff around north/central SA) then made the announcement to the team that morning on our weekly teleconference, then went and told everyone in the branch. It was fantastic, they were all so excited I do know though that they want me to work out dates etc around Jan/Feb so they can start planning for when I'll be gone - there are already a few people eyeing off my job lol.
Good luck telling everyone! I really think it's a personal decision, and you do have good reasons for waiting to tell them.
The day after I found out - I had taken the day off sick for a "tummy bug" which turned out to be bubba.
I work in a reasonably high risk situation, so made sense for close colleagues to know. I told the boss first, and gave her a moment to digest it. Then told other close colleagues, we were a permanent team of about 6. Told the rest of the workplace at 19 weeks, when I also submitted my letter of resignation (I don't want to go back to my permanent position, as it won't suit, so was best for both parties that I make that choice.)
I work in admin for local government so my work isn't really a problem except for a bit of stress and me having baby brain. We are always short staffed so I know it will put a strain oneveryone else, but all I can think of since being PG is 'Bring on maternity leave'.
Yes I have pretty good maternity leave entitlements in my contract so thats not a problem. I think its the fact that I had my scan this time at an earlier date than what I mc'd at last time and my next scan wont be untill after I tell my work so theres always that niggle of what if I tell them and then I loose this one too?? But thats something I just have to work out I guess, coz I don't think I can keep this pg to myself untill Im 20 weeks .
I work in Admin but also travelled once a month for a week at a time into the gas & oil fields so told my boss at 6 weeks as bit of a precaution and a few office friends a couple of weeks later, the rest found out as I slowly outgrew my clothes My boss was really good about it and always kept a careful eye on me lol
I kept travelling up until 36 weeks and finished work at 37 weeks, not sure what I'm going to do once my maternity leave runs out.
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How & when (how many weeks) did you tell your work you were pregnant?
good luck!
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