When are you letting work know?

ldb1014 · January 2013

I am absolutely terrified to tell my boss!! Scared I will lose my job! I am a motivational speaker for my organization and There is only one other person that does my job, she has her own territory though... Three months out would mean a big loss to the company. It took me two months of training to get where I am... Not only am I worried that they will fire me (Florida is an At Will Employment state, so they don't even have to tell me why) and just use some dumb reason why. I have never had any disciplinary action taken against me. I work well above my 40 hours a week, even on Saturdays!

Even if they decide to keep me, I am worried that they will replace my position and give me some crappy office job, which I don't want. The only reason I would work for my company is for this position.

It will even be hard to do it while I am preggo...up to eight hours a day on my feet (in heels mind you) with little time for the bathroom or to eat..let alone time to pump after the baby.

Does anyone else feel this way, or have been in this same situation. It is not an option for me not to work...I am the majority breadwinner.

snowbells · January 2013

I will probably wait a while to tell my new job (I actually start at a new company 2/4) for a while. I am also worried that I will be on a probation period for a while so I may also end up losing my job...

It is so stressful! Good luck and I hope they are able to work with you so you can keep your job!

jjkaye · January 2013

I'm going to wait until 12 weeks. I'm also nervous, as the timing isn't great for what I do (summer is very busy). I also just had my role here expanded and I hope that the'll believe that I'm capable of taking the extra work on until September(ish.) I'm a remote employee (our company is based in another state) but I do know others that I work with who have had babies recently and I think they were very happy with how flexible the company was with them. I'm hoping to take some time off, and then return on a part time basis for a few more weeks- or possibly work from home.

Is it best to come up with what I want/propose and then let them decide from there? What is common maternity leave time? 12 weeks? 6 weeks?

I'm such a noob. No idea about any of this stuff.

sugarkissed · January 2013

That is so horrible that they could let you go just because you are pregnant! Good luck, I hope that you find a way to make it work.

Although I'm not quite ready to tell my work, I think that I'll have to pretty soon. I work as a flight attendant and it's really to work such a crammed schedule and cope with MS at the same time. Also, our uniforms get replaced this month and unless I request maternity items I'm going to get stuck with a whole new set of size 2 pieces that won't fit for much longer! Haha.

magdalina.h · January 2013

My boss already knows, but he's part of my support system. HR will know around 12w.

sunshine2929 · January 2013

My work already knows... I had to tell them last time because my position is also a key role and there were going to lay off my assistant, so I had to tell them they have to keep her as she will have to be trained to do at least part of my job. So after that they knew I was trying... its a very small company so hard to hide things from coworkers. I wasnt planning to tell them yet about this pg, but one of my bosses asked me if I was cause I looked different to her when I came back from the holidays. She is a mom so she said she could just tell. I am a terrible liar so there was no point in me trying to lie about it! I have to start training my assistant soon as we get a year off here so its a long time without me here. Fortunately if they fired me for getting pg, it would be a huge labour dispute...they are not allowed to do that in Ontario.

eyris · January 2013

If I were you, I would wait until 12 weeks. No need to tell anyone too early if you are worried, but you don't want them to figure it out before you tell them yourself.

I live in Michigan and we have at-will employment too, but I'm pretty sure most employers are still afraid of lawsuits and most companies have HR departments that require documentation of incidents before someone is fired (in case of a lawsuit). My mom is a small business owner and she uses an HR company for payroll, benefits, etc. for her company and they require lots of documentation when she lets an employee go or they quit.

If they are happy with your performance, they will understand that you are starting a family and will figure something out while you are on maternity leave, especially since they should have months to plan before you are gone.

Good luck!

kje120 · January 2013

Last time I told around 17 weeks. I might tell earlier this time since there have been some changes and I think they might need the extra time to make sure this is someone to cover my stuff for 8 weeks.

Shanmarie1083 · January 2013

I don't plan on telling them... I am a contract employee and don't plan on returning to my job after the baby arrives. There really is no reason for them to know, plus my boss is a major biotch so I'd rather not have any unecessary conversations with her. I highly doubt she will directly ask me either, even when I'm huge and waddling down the hall.

ilovetolaugh · January 2013

I work one day a week...for my parents. They know. I also told them once this DC is born I won't be working for a while.

I got lucky.

DS doesn't get it yet, but I'm pretty sure he wont fire me. I'm a pretty fun SAHM.

ldb1014 · January 2013

Although they cant fire me bc I am pregnant, they dont have to tell me why they are firing me...they can make up an excuse...

A woman who worked here reported her boss for sexual harassment...soon after she did, she started getting written up for the littlest things! Boom...fired.

I am seeing an attorney tomorrow to be proactive...so there is legal documentation.

1026pumpkin · January 2013

I'm planning to tell between 12-16 weeks (I work from home, so nobody will notice a bump), and I think this is a pretty common timeframe. If you really want to wait, you could probably get to about 20 weeks before you'll have a super obvious bump (depending on body type).

If I were in your shoes, I'd talk with your doctor about when you're going to need to stop travelling and when you'll need to stop working. Then I'd try to figure out what you want to do for daycare, how long of a mat leave you want to take, and whether you want to pump (and how much- you could give baby some breast milk and formula; but if you could pump at 8, 12, and 4 for 20 minutes a session, you'd probably get the amt you need...if you could pump before starting your presentation, during a lunch break, and at the end of the day, maybe???)

After you have a rough plan of how you'd like things to work out, I'd meet with your manager and present your plan for when you'll need to stop working and when you'll come back and any accommodations you'll need and see how the plan goes over. I would send an email after the meeting to document what you discussed, and make sure you document everything to cover your butt in case they want to let you go over something trivial.

If they do end up transferring you to a desk job, I'd consider keeping it at least for the first few months after you get back from leave, because it would probably make it a lot easier to pump, etc., and then start looking for a position that you love.

Good luck! Hope it all works out!

sap221 · January 2013

I have told my boss she rocks I will wait a little longer to tell HR.

andy711 · January 2013

I will wait till 12 weeks. I'm not worried about losing my job but my boss will definitely be an ass and the first topic of conversation will be if my due date is near year end. Which it is and that will be a whole issue that will be made into a bigger deal then it is especially by the person that covers me...not looking forward to that at all!

SCtoDC · January 2013

My boss knows, I'll tell others after 12 weeks. We have a great HR department and wonderful maternity leave, so it won't be a big deal. I still have my "here is how to do my job" binder for a temp, and my boss and other colleague will have to do the things a temp can't do.

Also, keep your chin up - your job may not be as tough on you as you're expecting. My commute involves walking 2 miles a day (1 mile each way), plus transfering on Metro, and I didn't have any trouble with extra aches or swelling until 38 weeks. Your body is used to your days now, it might be ok for quite a while yet!

nrkloveswrk · January 2013

I will probably have to tell work sooner rather than later, but I will probably wait until I have the first U/S (hopefully). I don't really have to worry about losing my job much since I work with mostly women, they are used to people having to take maternity leave and such.

Apehanich · January 2013

I'm close to my coworkers I'm a police officer and full time dispatcher. I want to tell them now but I also am nervous to jinx anything by telling my work before 12 weeks. I am just going to let time tell bc everyone at work including my boss has been rooting for us to get pregnant.

DomesticAtty · January 2013

sunshine2929:
I have to start training my assistant soon as we get a year off here so its a long time without me here. Fortunately if they fired me for getting pg, it would be a huge labour dispute...they are not allowed to do that in Ontario.

Man, I need to work in Canada! I would be happy to get 4 weeks, but would take a year if able.

Is the year off paid? If you say yes, I'm packing my bags.

smilormarie · January 2013

Even if your state is "at will" employment, I still highly doubt the company could fire you and get around the whole FMLA laws. On top of that, they need to consider potential discrimination lawsuits if they don't get caught under FMLA.

I plan to tell work after 4 months. My current project will probably run that long anyway and it will help if I can be placed on a short term study until my due date or at least have time to train someone or find a replacement before I take leave.

mnw0910 · January 2013

andy711:
I will wait till 12 weeks. I'm not worried about losing my job but my boss will definitely be an ass and the first topic of conversation will be if my due date is near year end. Which it is and that will be a whole issue that will be made into a bigger deal then it is especially by the person that covers me...not looking forward to that at all!

You sound like me. I will actually be out during a qtr end and I know my back-up is going to flip when she finds she'll be doing extra work for a few months.

anewmrsS · January 2013

I told my work right away, as I did last time. We have to lift heavy things and transport patients from treatment chair to wheelchair, and I wanted them to know why I would be bowing away from that part when I could.

BillysGrl27 · January 2013

Co-workers will know at 12 weeks. I will meet with my principal around 14 or so weeks to go over HR paperwork. I am thinking I will show sooner since this is baby #2 so I'd rather tell then be asked.

sunshine2929 · January 2013

DomesticAtty:
sunshine2929:
I have to start training my assistant soon as we get a year off here so its a long time without me here. Fortunately if they fired me for getting pg, it would be a huge labour dispute...they are not allowed to do that in Ontario.
Man, I need to work in Canada! I would be happy to get 4 weeks, but would take a year if able.
Is the year off paid? If you say yes, I'm packing my bags.

We get unemployment benefits for a year that is 60% of your pay but you get maxed out... I think the max is just under $500/week. Not bad but when you are the major breadwinner its a huge paycut. But ill take it!

A friend of mine is a customs officer and when you work for the government you actually get topped off... so she ends up getting about 95% for the whole year!

lavamama112611 · January 2013

I told my department chair today because they plan classes in two weeks and I only wanted two preps instead of three next year. Plus they have to find a long term sub capable of teaching sophomore English and Law and Society. ( I am 5 1/2 weeks)

I am sure everything will work out well for you. I agree with pp, your employer will have to be careful because of legislation, at will employment or not. Best of luck, and enjoy the pregnancy, don't let it be a constant source of anxiety.

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