Telling new bosses that I'm pregnant - help!

Dizzy_Blonde

I've been at my new company for 6 months and really enjoying it etc, but have just found out I'm pregnant.

We are really pleased, but I'm so so worried about work. I'm about 2 months gone (my periods have always been irregular so didn't notice when I was late)...how the heck do I go in there and tell them that the new girl is pregnant!!?

I'm also a bit stressed out about money, we have no savings and had really not planned for this....

I was hoping to have at least a promotion under my belt before we started thinking about babies, but I guess that has all gone out the window.
When should I tell work? What should I say?

My two bosses (who own the company) are really nice but I don't think they will very impressed with my news.

Js_Other_Half

Congratulations and welcome to the boards.

Don't say anything until you're over 12 weeks gone - and legally you don't have to tell them until much later. Once you're sure of things just ask for a private word with one of them and tell them? You'll be entitled to 9 months off - plus annual leave. Do have some sort of plan for coming back (if you want to) so they are reassured you dowant to come back?

I know it'll be difficult, but if you only get the statutory minimum for maternity pay, then the company are reimbursed by the government, so they're not actually out any money.

I'm sure others will have more information on the practicalities.

<hug>

JustJewels

Hi Dizzy Blonde,

First congrats on your news! It's great that from a personal point of view, you are pleased.

From a work point of view, you don't have to inform your employer that you are pregnant for many months, and then you need to inform the employer for Statutory Maternity Pay purposes when you are around 24/25 weeks I think (15 weeks before your due date).

However, if your employer doesn't know you are pregnant, you can't officially get time off for antenatal appointments or consideration for any pregnancy symptoms.

Do you want to tell your employers? What makes you think they won't be ok with your news? Legally they can't discriminate against you just because you're pregnant.

I too was worried about telling my employers, and while they weren't esctatic, they were ok. Sometimes we worry about things that don't actually happen - I hope that will be the case for you!

Best wishes

JJ

Dizzy_Blonde

Thanks for your replies. I guess in a way I'm embarrased to tell my bosses as I'm still quite new, but I guess they are nice people so after the initial surprise I'm sure (and hoping) they will be quite supportive.

I think I'll leave it a short while so I've got my used to being pregnant and then will tell them - probably after 12 weeks - I do want to tell them so they know and if I need to make appointments etc.

pokey128

hi!
I found out I was pregnant 4 weeks after starting a new job! needless to say it wasn't planned!
My work were brilliant and I don't know now why I was so worried about telling them. I waited til about 16 weeks to tell them so that it didn't seem so bad!
Thats me on maternity leave now and am due in 4 weeks

Good luck x

whitewing

I told my bosses just after they told me that my three month trial was successful. They were great. I felt terrible. Love DS to pieces though (he's 11 now).

lady_stardust

This thread has reminded me of telling my boss I was pregnant...I was 6 weeks gone and procrastinating over how to do it. He and a colleague were discussing who in the office had pitched in to buy a new coffee machine and he turned to me and asked me "Are you in the club?". He was very embarrased when he realised what he'd just asked so he didn't notice me nearly choking! I managed to say no, but I cornered him the next day and told him. "You know when you asked me if I was in the club...well I am"

I had awful sickness for a long time (now 24 weeks and still getting spells of it) and it was hard enough to deal with in itself so I couldn't have coped with having to disguise it too and not being cut any slack. If you have an easier time of it, you could tell them later but you won't get the time off for appointments.

foreversomeday

This site is fantastic.

How much you will get, when you have to tell your employer etc.
http://tiger.direct.gov.uk/cgi-bin/maternity.cgi

Related info from the same website.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/Parentalleaveandpay/DG_10029290

There's also a letter you can fill in and print out on that site somewhere.

belfastgirl23

Just to say though I think it's worth telling them fairly soon after 3 months. I know you don't *have* to but it seems only fair to give them as much time as possible to figure out their end of things, it means you can ask for time for appointments etc and prevents people speculating. I hate the bit where someone is pretty obviously pregnant but you can't say anything because they haven't *announced* it yet...

itzmee

I had been in my job for just two months when I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant. I was worried about telling my boss too especially as I hadn't been there long. I would have kept quiet but when I was about 10 weeks he kept asking me to help him carry equipment/boxes so I had no choice but to tell him. He was great about it and it wasn't an issue at all. I was actually made redundant a couple of months later which was nothing to do with my pregnancy, the whole department was laid off, but I was glad as my pregnancy was quite difficult with morning sickness every day until birth!