April 2016 Moms

First pregnancy at company??

AYembrickAYembrick member
edited September 2015 in April 2016 Moms
Im wondering if any of you are going to be the first woman to have a baby where you work? I work for a relatively new (5 year old) company and so far we have had 2 new dads, but no new moms in our staff. The dad's didnt set a great example and didn't even use their full paternity leave offered. Since Im the first woman to actually go through a pregnancy here I am feeling really conflicted about how open to be and what to expect from my team. None of our senior leadership have children, though all are generally very supportive about things that come up in life. Im also a first time parent so don't really know what to expect myself. 

Has anyone else gone through something similar? I'd love to hear your experience and any advice that you can share! 

Re: First pregnancy at company??

  • I'm in the same boat. I work for a mid-sized, older company, but is mostly men that work there. I'm the only woman in our regional office. The good thing is that my company is very family-oriented, so I expect them to be pretty understanding about my maternity leave choices. If they aren't, that's discrimination plain and simple!
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  • I'm kind of in that position right now. I work in a male-dominated Construction/mining Industry as a secretary and dispatcher at an independent location. In the Corporate office there are some ladies who have had children but I am the first woman, and youngest employee out on the job site (there are many sites in a couple states) to be expecting. My bosses don't know exactly how to deal with it, but I have to say so far doing well, and making sure I am taken care of. I am very independent on doing things on my own but now they won't even let me take the trash out or lift anything. My employer doesn't have Maternity Leave, but offers Short Term Disability that we can use for leave. I am planning on taking 8 weeks and fortunately my immediate boss is very supportive of it. I am a first time Mom as well.
  • Do you have an HR department or an employee handbook?  Start there, find out what the companies policies are for appointments, maternity leave, if you have short term disability coverage, if you are protected by FMLA, if you plan to nurse if your company has so many people they are required to give you a space to pump, and I would also look into your insurance coverage if you are insured through your employer.
  • I'm in the same boat. I work for a mid-sized, older company, but is mostly men that work there. I'm the only woman in our regional office. The good thing is that my company is very family-oriented, so I expect them to be pretty understanding about my maternity leave choices. If they aren't, that's discrimination plain and simple!
    Not quite so plain and simple.  There are federal regulations for FMLA leave and your employer determines their maternity leave policy and any pay or short term disability pay.  You would be able to find this in your employee handbook or from HR.
  • You are also lucky to be the first! You can set the president for future moms. Take advantage of the benefits and laws provided and prove to them that being a mom will not be the end of the world for the company.  Then hopefully in the future, they will be very understanding and work with future moms. 
    BabyFetus Ticker
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