Planning to tell boss, any tips?

ncawa

I'm planning to tell my boss today and I'm kind of freaking out. Any tips on things I need to say?

KelXoXo

I'd be prepared to say when you plan to go on leave, how long you plan to stay out and what percentage of that is company offered or STD, and what is your own personal or vacation time.

Also, a plan for if you go out earlier than expected.  I am going to work from home the last month before my due date, and every day I'll be responsible for saving up works in progress and contact information, etc, so that anyone can jump in and take over. 

If you plan to come back to work, talk about how/if your schedule should change to accomodate daycare drop off or pick up.

I don't know if this works for your position, but I also started looking at long term projects and coordinated with my boss to see when I need to pull in someone else to train to be able to perform my tasks while I'm out. 

MrsSC9

I just told my boss striaght up so that there wasnt any question to why I was taking so many 1/2 days and such for apporintments (I'm a teacher).

Leave wasnt a big deal for me because we shouild be on break by then...

Good luck!

TessieF

I told my boss a few weeks ago and debated on whether to discuss my schedule upon return with him at that point, but I decided it was premature. I told him that I definitely planned to return to work after the baby comes, and I think he was relieved.  I didn't discuss maternity leave yet - we get 3 months paid (and that is what most people take, although some request a 4th month unpaid), so I thought it was assumed that 3 months is probably what I will be taking.  If I wasn't sure of the maternity leave policy, I probably would have brought it up at this initial meeting. I think the most important things to convey at the meeting are that (a) you still intend on being a team player and working as hard as you can/your body will allow through your pregnancy, and (b) you are committed to returning to the job after the baby is born. 

I am going to ask for a reduced schedule (still full time, but 35 hours instead of my normal 50-60), but I want to wait until later in the spring when I have a better idea of what my childcare situation will be.  I also wanted to wait until after my 2010 review because I think it will be positive and put me in a better position to negotiate my schedule after maternity leave.  I spoke to several other people at company about whether I should bring up the schedule at my "hey, I'm pregnant" meeting and they all thought I should wait until at least March-April. My thought is that my job at the intial meeting is to reassure the company that I still want to contribute, instead of asking them to reassure me that they will work with me to meet my needs as a parent (which I still intend to do later, hopefully following a positive review).

 

 

MrsPBNJ0220

I'm nervous as well, so I don't have much advice for you.  I just plan on telling my boss that I'm pregnant.  I don't plan on telling her what my plans are as for leave, as I'm unsure if I will return.  I will most likely not be returning here because I don't have a child friendly position.  Good Luck though!

ncawa

Thanks girls for all your advice. I went in there with such a big plan on everything that I was going to tell her (my leave, returning, projects, training my substitute etc) and all that went out the window b/c she totally surprised me by just being super excited! She was so happy and said that we have plenty of time to work out all those details and instead we spent the 1/2 hour chit chatting about what an exciting time this must be for DH and I and that she's very happy for me and to take care of myself and take whatever time I need for anything.

 I'm so happy it turned out so positive. I didn't think she was going to flip or anything but I was just concerned about her not being excited for me.

 Good luck for those girls that haven't told yet.

helenejr

be honest and be open to answer questions about leave, time off, expectations for when you return. I found my boss was just overjoyed - his daughter has just found out she is pregnant with her first - so it's a huge wave of emotion for him too - he was so accommodating and i know it's going to be easy to come back after i've teken leave knowing i have his support