Breaking the news to your employer

Rosie24 · June 2011

Have you done it yet?

If not, when do you plan on doing it?

Is there a deadline for this? I can't seem to find how much notice I need to give my employer before leave. I wonder if this varies by state.

Background-I work in sales and see my manager about once a month, he's new so our relationship is strictly professional. I don't see the need of me telling him any sooner than I have to. If I worked in an office setting or for my previous manager of course they would have known already.

McSquishy · June 2011

I just told last week (so 17 wks on the dot) and only because my body was giving me away.

This is my 3rd kid and as a gov't worker I'm only eligible for FMLA so there's really not a lot of figuring/planning that needs to be done.

bendylim · June 2011

Is there anyone else you work with that may know the process (esp. any women who have just had a baby?). I told my principal early just so she would know and plan a sub for me, but I didn't have to 'officially' submit anything until about 6 weeks before my due date.

I guess if they need someone to do your job while you are gone you may want to let them know sooner rather than later so they can start prepping. If not, then wait until the next time you see him and it's obvious you are pregnant.

Jillylauk · June 2011

I told my boss very early on. He and I have a very friendly relationship so I knew he won't give me a hard time if I need to leave early or come in late for doctor appointments. I guess I am lucky because he was very cool with it

nekillo · June 2011

I work for a not-for-profit that provides special education services to schools (I don't work FOR the schools, basically my company "pimps out" my "services" (lol) to 18 different school districts) My company figures out all of the school contracts then offers me one contract to provide all of the services. I haven't gotten a contract for next school year yet. (I am not worried, my contract will be renewed, they are just slow) But I definitely will not disclose until I have the signed contract.

I actually plan on showing up to our annual "pre-service" meeting in August with my baby bump and surprising everyone. They all knew about my loss last year. Only one co-worker knows about my current pregnancy but she has been sworn to secrecy.

haleymay18 · June 2011

Yeah, our company is pretty small and I share an office with the owner. He has 3 kids and our kids are a constant source of conversation. When I was 6 weeks (after the first u/s) I was just like "hey, so I am pregnant!). I waited until 12 weeks to tell my last employer when I was pregnant with my first daughter.

Blondie3328 · June 2011

I am in Sales too and I am trying to wait as long as possible to tell, but my bump is defintiely becoming more visible so it'll probably be sooner rather than later.

My next Dr's appointment is July 8th and I want to see how that goes and then maybe I'll tell my employer the following week. I'll be 17 weeks then.

kwcw · June 2011

I told at 13 weeks, I work in a small office and I wanted to give them time to think about my absence. I have 3 bosses, I told one of them who in turn told the others.

chrlyr · June 2011

Jillylauk:
I told my boss very early on. He and I have a very friendly relationship so I knew he won't give me a hard time if I need to leave early or come in late for doctor appointments. I guess I am lucky because he was very cool with it

Same here. He was actually super-excited about it. It was actually sweet! We have a pretty laid back office, so they don't really care if you randomly leave during the day to take care of things as long as you get all of your billable hours in.

iluvmylab · June 2011

I told early, at 11 weeks. But I have a good relationship with the principal at my school. I kind of had to tell because I coach soccer and will miss my season, as well as needing a long term sub for my history class, so he was thankful I told them early because my spot will be a little tricky to fill.

Mye · June 2011

I had to tell, i need time off for doctors appointments in the beginning and we were right in the middle of an election, so i couldnt take the time off otherwise

MrsT2008 · June 2011

I told my good friend (who is also like a pseudo manager for me) right away

The rest of my managers and coworkers were told at 12 weeks after our NT scan. I work for a huge company though with a lot of flexibility for parents, so I had no reservations about telling anyone.

oasis16 · June 2011

I haven't told work yet. I'll probably do it in the next 2-3 weeks, as long as my body holds out. I'm not showing at all and haven't gained any weight yet, but I can't imagine that will last much longer.

lewis514 · June 2011

I told my boss at about 12 weeks. I had my 1:1 call with him and felt silly calling him the next week to to tell him. I work from home so I rarely see my managers - 4 times a year, max. I am the only person in US/Canada that does my job so I wanted him to have time to think about how to cover for me. Last time, there was another guy who was interested in the position and we got a headcount for 2 people so it was easy. He has left so now it's back to just me.

2gr8pits · June 2011

I am also in sales and waiting to tell until I am showing. My a/s is July 5th, so I will probably tell after that since my tummy is starting to grow now. But we will see, if I can hold off then I will. Luckily I only work in an office with my boss 3 days of the week and with appts I am usually not in the office 1-2 of those days. So it has been fairly easy to hide and I schedule my dr appts on my days off. I don't think there is a "rule" for how much notice you need to give (at least at my company), my coworker didn't tell until 5.5 months and she was obviously showing by the time she told. I am really curious to see what my maternity leave is since we have a new handbook coming out this year and it hasn't been released yet (but was supposed to be released in March).

indomesticbliss · June 2011

Haven't told, and don't plan on it for a few more weeks.....however, with this pregnancy I am showing and it's a little awkward to try and hide right now.

I work for a very small company and I have a few creative ideas to propose. Honestly, I have no idea what the reaction is going to be by my boss.

Rosie24 · June 2011

I doubt they will get anyone to cover for me. I am responsible for my territory and it would take about the term of my maternity to leave to hire and train another rep..LOL. Who knows though.

Maybe I will tell after my A/S in a couple weeks.I am @16 weeks and just starting to show (though most people couldn't really tell). I just need to figure out if I am legally bound to tell them by a certain date.

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