Well, I told work
NewMrs07
member
And it didn't go too well I think. My supervisor's first reaction was "Oh my God" and "I have to talk to HR". And the color drained from her face. So I think I totally shocked her. Then I tried to soften the blow by saying I plan to come back, yada yada and I understand if the company can't offer me 12 weeks leave, etc. But I could tell she was kind of pissed. It doesn't help that she's in her 50s, single and lives with her dog. She's totally devoted to work. I think if she was a mother she would understand better.
Oh well, it was going real well up to today, so I hope this doesn't totally screw up my chances there. It seems so unfair that we have to deal with this as women. Men don't have to deal with all this stuff. I'm kind of depressed now.
Maybe after she gets over the initial shock she might soften a bit. We'll see...
Re: Well, I told work
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That's brutal! I'm so sorry your work reacted that way. It drives me nuts to hear those stories - you're right that men don't have to deal with it, but more importantly, that people react that way at all makes me wonder about people.
Maybe she's also a bit jealous?
I told my company about 6 weeks ago. Luckily, my 60+ year-old male supervisor had some recent experience with another pregnant employee's maternity leave, so he was fairly pleasant about my revelation.
My company only provides 6 weeks of maternity leave which I am very thankful for (8 if you have a C-section), but I am going to take the additional 6 weeks (under the Family Medical Leave Act) withouth pay so our baby will be just about 3 months before I go back. I haven't yet told them my plans to take the additional 6 weeks off yet, and I'm not sure when I'm going to drop that bomb.
Worrying about your job while dealing with the "ups and downs" of pregnancy is very frustrating. I totally understand. I sincerely hope your boss can try and put herself in your shoes and be supportive as you continue your journey into motherhood. We working moms definitely have to know our legal rights and ensure we are being treated fairly. I will be thinking about you and sending you well wishes until your maternity leave starts.
Oh man, that really sux, sorry to hear that they reacted in such a creepy way. I told my direct supervisor a few weeks ago and he's been acting very weird around me since. I'm trying to reasure him that i'll be back (if they'll take me back!), and unfortunately they only provided a paid 1 wk maternity leave but I also have 2 wks of vacation (I know) so that'll help me for 3 weeks....but after that, I'm screwed unless he gets generous......
I hope it gets better for you and she'll realize this weekend what a sour-puss she must have been, good luck on Monday and please don't let it worry you, hopefully HR will have a better understanding and be more compassionate. Enjoy your weekend!
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Right now I am taking off a lot of vacation time in December. ?That way it is already preapproved time. ?And I am also waiting to use my sick time in December as well. ?Everyone in my department asks off for vacation and uses their sick time in December. ?The weather is usually bad--if it snows, people cannot get to work, or they have a cold, or they just want to spend time with family around the holidays. ?
If this pregnancy works out, then I am just going to work with my supervisor to see what maternity leave plan would work the best. ??
I am lucky. ?My supervisor is a grandmother. ?And there are a couple of women in my department who have children. ??
Hopefully, your supervisor will warm up to the idea. ?Just let her know that you are still committed to your job, and that this is the one time in your life when you can have a healthy child. ??
Thanks girls
I've been stressed about that. Today I went off on my parents and my husband. These pregnancy hormones, plus the anxiety about the job and being a first-time mom are all getting to me. I am so jumpy lately! I just have to find a way to relax (maybe prenatal yoga and swimming) and just let whatever will be, be. I think HR will tell her what's legal and what's not and she will just have to chill. I don't qualify for FMLA b/c I will have been working there less than a year when I go on leave, but I'm hoping they will at least give me 8 weeks of unpaid leave. It sucks that they company also doesn't offer short-term disability, so the leave will be unpaid. I don't even worry so much about the money portion, more about the possibility of them not holding the job for me (legally they don't have to in my situation).
We'll see next week I guess. I imagine I will have to meet with my supervisor and the HR director to discuss. And I also would like to come back and only work 4 days instead of 5, but I won't drop that bomb until much later on. First I have to see if I will have a job by then.
Wish me luck and thanks for the kind replies!