how soon would you tell your manager you were pregnant?

balletshoes

I waited until after my 12 week scan to tell anyone at work, including my manager.

Is standing for your shifts at work causing you problems just now?

Gigglepig

Skintchick, I'm not saying it's nice or right, I'm just trying to be realistic, I think many employers would be less inclined to be sympathetic if a lady got pregnant half a year after starting a new job. Personally I've first wanted to establish a good reputation & track record. I'm not in my 20s and as mentioned not everyone has a choice to delay (medical reasons including fertility dropping due to age...)

Some employers may be negative regardless of how long you have been there and how much you have done for them, but I'd be extra cautious if I'd only been in the job a few months.

fly_dragon_fly

Gigglepig wrote: »

Skintchick, I'm not saying it's nice or right, I'm just trying to be realistic, I think many employers would be less inclined to be sympathetic if a lady got pregnant half a year after starting a new job. Personally I've first wanted to establish a good reputation & track record. I'm not in my 20s and as mentioned not everyone has a choice to delay (medical reasons including fertility dropping due to age...)

Some employers may be negative regardless of how long you have been there and how much you have done for them, but I'd be extra cautious if I'd only been in the job a few months.

I understand what you are saying we have been trying for years and have been having fertility treatment for the last 3 months ( I only get 6 months then that's it as I'm not entitled to IVF on the NHS) so I had to take it when I was given it, when I started the job I told my work straight away as I have to have hospital appointments every 3 months but tbh wasn't expecting to get pregnant as I haven't been able to since dating my partner 7 years ago as I don't ovulate ( maybe to much info for you but thought I should explain the situation )

fly_dragon_fly

skintchick wrote: »

But OP, back to you In that case maybe don;t tell them? What is your gut feeling? Would you prefer not to?

Oh and I can;t think of a food retailer beginning with C!

I want to tell them but I feel that it's a bit early and almost jinxing it although the lady boss has gone through the same treatment as me so does understand, she was amazing when i had the m/c and the shop i work in has 4 letters if you shorten it. Not a job I want forever but one I am enjoying currently.

FatVonD

fly_dragon_fly wrote: »

I understand what you are saying we have been trying for years and have been having fertility treatment for the last 3 months ( I only get 6 months then that's it as I'm not entitled to IVF on the NHS) so I had to take it when I was given it, when I started the job I told my work straight away as I have to have hospital appointments every 3 months but tbh wasn't expecting to get pregnant as I haven't been able to since dating my partner 7 years ago as I don't ovulate ( maybe to much info for you but thought I should explain the situation )

As an infertility sufferer myself I have to say that, in your position, with only had six chances to get pregnant and having already had one miscarriage I'd pack the job in altogether if I remotely thought that standing for that length of time may have contributed to the miscarriage.

Good luck

onlyroz

I personally wouldn't tell *anyone* until 12 weeks.

LittleMoog

I told my boss the day I found out, as I work in a lab with chemicals that can be dangerous to the unborn child so needed to make adjustments to my work. I'm really glad I did as I then had awful morning sickness, so it was good that she already knew as she allowed me to work at home as much as possible.

I think if you start to feel like you're struggling by the end of your long shift, tell them and ask for an extra break/time off your feet? They'll have to complete a pregnancy risk assessment which will cover standing for long periods, possibly hot temperatures etc? If they know about the fertility treatment already, it hopefully won't be a big surprise

colli

If they know you are ttc they'll be expecting you to announce your pregnancy soon anyway. If they were going to pass you over for promotion etc. due to pregnancy they would be doing it already I would have thought

Personally I told my employers very early on as 1) they knew I had a mc already and were probably expecting a pregnancy 2) no promotion/pay rise prospects anyway 3) I had lots of early appointments 4) I knew I would find it hard to concentrate on my job, I wanted them to know that if I wasn't up to my usual standards there was a good reason for it.

ETA employers have a duty of care towards pregnant employees but if they don't know you are pregnant they can't be expected to exercise this

I find the keeping quiet for 12 weeks very stressful, I don't like lying and I don't like feeling deceitful. It was a huge relief just to be honest and they were supportive. Good luck whatever you decide!

Gigglepig

I hope your employer is understanding and that you don't feel too uncomfortable. If there is no space for a stool, can you have one of those seats on a stick sort of things that people take out on walks? It doesn't sound very comfortable to be stuck in such a small place.

I hope they give you the support you need. Firstly you have rights secondly clearly are a genuine person who were not trying to exploit them, but sadly some employers/managers just aren't nice and I think you won't find out for sure until you tell them. If you have been up front with them then that sounds good. If they aren't nice then so be it, the important thing is that you are pregnant and starting a family :-)

Maybe I'm just pessimistic, but I am absolutely terrified of telling my employer, after overhearing male managers discussing potentially pregnant ladies.

At the end of the day it is a personal decision when and who to tell, some ladies tell everyone as soon as they find out, some even wait until after the last scan.

By the way, there are some nice ladies over on the less than 12 weeks pregnancy thread if you want to chat.

dizsiebubba

I think that co-op* would be able to make reasonable adjustments for its pregnant employees.

*or insert other 4 lettered, large food retailler name here