Lurker with question about telling employer

bithy75

Hello all,

I mostly lurk here, but I've seen a lot of helpful advice about various working mother situations, so I hope it's OK to post my question. I'm a faculty member on a 9-month contract at a university, and I've been at this job for 1 year. I'm 8 weeks pregnant, and had planned on telling my department chair and dean right when our new contract begins in the middle of August (right at 12 weeks). Well, I just had a meeting today and found out that my contract terms are going to change somewhat (part teaching and part administrative work). I'm happy about the new terms, but I know these changes will impact classes and programs that will take place when I'm out on maternity leave. It will also mean that plans need to be made as soon as possible for other people to cover my duties while I'm gone. They also have to draw up a new contract to reflect my new duties. I really didn't want to tell anyone about my pregnancy until 12 weeks, but now I feel a sense of obligation to tell so that appropriate plans can be made. Should I tell my employer this early or just stick it out another 4 weeks? Would it be unprofessional if I don''t say something now?

Thanks for your help! 

TheBorg7of9

Would four weeks really make a difference in the plans that are made.  I mean, after all, there are 32 more weeks until baby comes, right?  Isn't that enough time to figure it out?

FemShep

TheBorg7of9:

Would four weeks really make a difference in the plans that are made.  I mean, after all, there are 32 more weeks until baby comes, right?  Isn't that enough time to figure it out?

Agreed.  I would stick it out another 4 weeks, especially if you'll have another contract in place by then.  Good luck! 

SparkySharky

Also - don't freak out - but something could happen between now and then. People don't tell before 12 weeks for a reason. If you feel really horrible, you could try to delay the contracting process until you reach 12 weeks, but no one would blame you if you didn't say anything before then. Unless you work for a man. Sometimes they're dense about these things.

Fullcircle06

Agree. I'd definitely wait. I mean, some people don't even share with family until after 12 weeks, so I'd say you're fine.

KJKNAJ

I guess I'm the odd one out but I would tell them. I just know it would hang over my head for the next month if I didn't, and I'd feel so awkward whenever discussion of the changes would happen.

Clynnpollock

KJKNAJ:

I guess I'm the odd one out but I would tell them. I just know it would hang over my head for the next month if I didn't, and I'd feel so awkward whenever discussion of the changes would happen.

 

Not completely odd - I would tell them too. I did with my current pregnancy. Boss was asking about staffing needs for the next year...  

jjlflypsyd1228

I would tell them too.

I am in a similar position as a fulltime faculty member in a tenure track position. I just completed my first year and my second starts in late August. I am 5 weeks pregnant , but I had agreed to teach an extra class above my normal fulltime load back in April. It is a Bio lab class where there are dissections of preserved specimens in 4 of the 12 classes. I am not sure if I should reveal my condition to my boss now or wait until September. I do not want to be exposed to the formaldehyde vapors from the preserved specimens, so either my options are to tell my boss now and ask her to reassign the class to someone else, or keep quiet and keep the class, but have to get someone to sub for me for those 4 classes. What do you all think?

kitten mittenz

OP, are you having an ultrasound any time soon? Just curious, I had one with DD at 8 weeks and felt comfortable telling my boss after that, but waited to tell others I worked with until 12 weeks...

 

PP, 5 weeks is pretty early. I might wait if I were you.  Depends on how difficult it is to get a sub?