There is no right way to tell your boss about your pregnancy, but there are things you can do to make it easier both for yourself and your boss. You may find yourself feeling nervous about spilling the beans, and worrying that your boss will be inconvenienced by the news. Your boss may worry about the impact your pregnancy will have on the company, but is more likely to worry about losing you as an employee in case you decide not to return after maternity leave. Follow these simple tips to make telling your boss about your pregnancy as pain-free as possible:
- Get the timing right – you should announce the pregnancy before you start to show. Some people prefer to wait until they are into the second trimester, but if you are suffering from nausea that is affecting your work, you may wish to announce it sooner
- Tell her in person – a face to face conversation is always the best way to break big news
- Tell her first – your boss may be annoyed to hear the news second hand from another colleague, so make sure your boss if the first person you tell at your workplace
- Offer ideas – your maternity leave is likely to impact upon the company, so try to come up with a few ideas of how you can limit this impact. Writing handover notes, tying up loose ends and training up a colleague to cover your work are all ways you could try to limit the damage
- Health and safety – are there any aspects of your role that could be unsafe to you or your developing baby? If so, you should inform your boss of this as soon as possible, and work out suitable alternatives for ensuring the work is done
- Know your rights – maternity leave entitlements differ from state to state, and will also differ between companies. Some companies go above and beyond the legal minimum, whereas others will offer simply what they must. Find out what you are entitled to before the meeting, this will allow you to have an informed discussion
- Be honest – it’s important to be honest with your boss. If you are planning to leave your job after your maternity leave, you should let them know in advance. Bear in mind, however, that this may affect your maternity benefits. It is also worth bearing in mind that it can be difficult to predict how you feel once the baby arrives, and for this reason many women choose to wait before deciding whether or not to return to work
- Be clear – tell your boss your expectations, and how you plan to make the pregnancy work for the company. Are you planning to keep in touch with the office during maternity leave, or would you prefer to be oblivious to work news during that time? Both options are fine, but let your colleagues know in advance so they can act accordingly
Do you have any tips to add?
Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.
