Need help with boss

ErinBrian

I am 8 weeks pregnant and just found out that my coworker is 6 weeks pregnant.   Our due dates are less than 2 weeks apart which means we will both be going on maternity leave at the same time.  We work for a large company but we have a small office - 3 of us and my boss.  We are concerned about telling my boss and don't know how to do it.  Should we tell him together?  Separately?  Im sure I am overanalyzing but I don't want him to be upset with us.  We are both extremely excited and happy for eachother but we do understand the strain this will put on our office.  Any ideas what would be the best way to break the news? 

BellaKelsey

I personally think it would be best to approach him/her individually. I think he/she could feel like they're the "last to know" if you did it together.

Also, my advice is to come forward with concrete ideas about how things might function in your absence. I recently told my boss, and for four weeks of my leave my only FTE will be on Europe. I proposed hiring an intern in November, to be fully trained by February, and ready to step up in June when FTE goes to Europe.

Mrst2theB

It depends on how uptight or laid he is. I would do it together possibly and explain that you are both willing to train some one new to take your places and that the timing was unplanned. Some men are so ignorant. If he has kids it will possibly make it easier. I would also do a fruit basket of some sort to to distract him a little. The good thing is most men are scared of women with child thanks to Hollywood. GL

lovebeingamom72

I'm the other coworker.   I think the upside to telling together is that we can let him know that once we knew about each other, we knew it would be a challenge for the office so we wanted to tell him as soon as possible and offer to do what we can. However, part of me thinks that it may not be professional or the right thing to go in together. We are each individuals. He may feel more "attacked" if we go in together. The downside of telling separately is that the second person may get the really bad response which will be very frustrating. Also, after the first person tells what if the boss makes a comment about hoping the other one of us is not pregnant are planning on it anytime soon. I get stressed just thinking about it. I'm sure it will all work out but it is a tough situation. I am curious to see what others think is the best way to handle this.

LemonSqueezy

This exact situation happened with me last time.  We told our boss seperately.  And I would do it that way again.  Of course my boss was a little stressed about the situation, but it went over well.  It was a strain for us both to be gone.  Normally where I worked we could have ran with one of us gone, but not with two.  We had a replacement come in while we were on leave and we both helped to train her. 

I thought it was a lot of fun to have a pregnant buddy at work.  Kind of made things easier in a way, someone always new how you were feeling.  Both of us have moved on from the company but we are still close, and our kids are great friends!

6fsn

Do it seperately.  I can't think of anything professional about going in together.  You are individuals with individual responsibilities and individual work histories.  Deal with these as individual professionals.