Telling your (newish) employer

ashy22lou · May 2014

Hi everyone. I've been with my employer for about 8 months, and I'm so nervous about telling them I'm expecting. They have been nothing but awesome and family-orientated, and I'm sure it will go great but because my previous employer was so awful about my other two pregnancies, I'm just nervous. It doesn't help they have nothing listed about a maternity leave policy (it's been over 10 years since anyone had a baby). Anyone want to tell me your good reaction stories to psyche me up?

By the way, hope to post more. This is baby #3 for me.

TheBorg7of9 · May 2014

I told my job after 11 months. It was normal and fine. Although he was nervous that I was telling him I am quitting. And I purposely avoided apologizing for going on maternity leave or getting pregnant. Having children is normal and happens to most people!

jlaOK · May 2014

I told my current employer after 10 months. We are <50 employee company (no FMLA) and I was also scared. They created a maternity policy around me and even created 2 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave. They were nothing but great during my entire pregnancy. Good luck!!!

ashy22lou · May 2014

Well, I told them and they were thrilled for me. "We love babies!" So all that worrying for nothing. Thanks for the positive feedback!

bethughknee · May 2014

I was so scared to tell my old job as well. I got married the year before I got pregnant and joked with my boss so many times that I wanted to get drunk on my anniversary and MH got me a wine of the month thing for Christmas so of course I wouldn't get KTFU in 2013! Aaaaand then I did. He made fun of me but it was no biggie.

I'm glad it went well and BTW congrats on baby #3!

cecilyandgautam · May 2014

Congrats! I think going in with a proposed plan helps keep the conversation productive. You don't say whether FMLA would apply to you, but if it does, you have the flexibility to go in saying how much of the 12 weeks you want and when you plan to come back. If no FMLA eligibility, then you can go in with a proposal - I'm requesting X weeks, return at p/t for Y weeks, and full time by such & such date and then leave your proposal with your supervisor to think it over, run it by HR, etc. I have certain big quarterly meetings that I cover through out the year, so I went in with answers to the questions I knew I'd get - which quarterly meetings I'd be out for, how much prep I could do for them ahead of time, who I thought it'd be best to hand off to for my time out (though that's the boss's call really), and how accessible I'm willing to be while out.

Sounds like you work at a good place, so I'm sure it will go well. They can't really (or shouldn't) be jerks about it - you're having a baby and that's life. They'll probably say congrats and then wonder how to manage while you're out - if you've already put some thought into the later, that keeps the conversation moving and not too awkward.

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