Help me puzzle this one out, ladies.
I work in a large department (office of early learning -- early intervention ) but there are only 2 other people who have my exact job. I'm a teacher for visually impaired preschoolers. It's challenging to hire for this position as its a scarce /critical degree and there aren't many teachers out there. Positions can sit open for up to a year. Anyways, one of my 2 coworkers has applied for a different job within our larger department and has asked me not share my pregnancy news until she heard about the job. She is the only work person I've told. She had her first interview the 2nd week of December so I figured that id be safe sharing the news in February when we found out the sex of the baby. Well, she called me today and told me that they won't be making a decision til the end of March and asked me not to tell til then as a courtesy to her. I'm assuming I'll be visibly showing by then and I feel really torn. I don't want to affect her job chances (I won't be returning to work til next January which would mean potentially 2 open positions out of 3 - very bad from a legal standpoint for the department) but I also feel like asking me to wait this long is a bit much. I think my supervisor might wonder why I didn't share sooner, and also I want to share in the joy of being pregnant w th my friends/coworkers. Not sure what to do here....so wwyd?
Re: Announcing pregnancy to work dilemma
BFP-7/15/14, CP-7/27/14
BFP-10/25/14, EDD-6/23/15 7/6/15
Thanks for the reassurance that I shouldn't have to conceal this for her for that long of a time. I understand how much the job means to her, but I feel like asking me to hide it for that long is asking too much and may not even be possible depending on my belly.
I work in a very small hospital, there are 5 nurses there with my qualifications. When I go off, there will only be 4. I'm going off for 9m so it isn't a short amount of time. They will have a hard time filling my spot and its likely that the others will have to pick up all of my shifts. I am holding off on telling because I have only been there since late September and want to pass my probation period before I tell management. I'm hopeful that no one will be upset and I won't have to stress about my not being there while I'm off.
Be upfront with your co-worker. Let her know when you were originally planning on telling, and tell her that it also wouldn't be fair to the department/your boss if you didn't let them know.
Good luck!!
Tell her you wish her luck but you are not comfortable keeping your pregnancy a secret until March.
Nope nope. I think you need to tell your boss. It's the prudent thing to do for your own professional relationships and future.
You will most definitely be showing by March!
If you're NOT close. I wouldn't be as inclined to help as much...
I 100% understand the coworker's concerns but hide nga your pregnancy for 20+ weeks?!? Come on.
Also, maybe knowing that you'll do be on maternity leave, they'll move her to the new job faster and get to work on a (even temporary) replacement.
Unfortunately, I know my pregnancy will ruin my coworkers chances of getting the other job. That sucks and it shouldn't be that way, but that's just the reality (not that management would actually say that). Hopefully she will find out sooner rather than later and I can stick to my timeline of sharing in February after she finds out.
Thanks to everyone for input. Glad to know I wasn't being selfish.