Pregnancy & Work: Telling Your Boss
For many pregnant women who also happen to work, one of the sources of anxiety is when and how to break the news to their boss, especially if they are not sure what the reaction will be. The answer to that question will depend on many factors that are unique to your individual situation. I told my manager when I was about three and a half months pregnant, but I have also known women who waited until their fifth or even seventh month before notifying their bosses. A few things to consider are:
- How far along you are in your pregnancy and how much you are showing. You definitely don’t want to wait so long that your manager can tell that you are pregnant before you say anything. As a courtesy, it makes sense to let them know before it becomes obvious.
- Whether you have any medical issues or health concerns. If you are suffering from severe pregnancy symptoms or have any other health concerns that need to be addressed, you should notify your workplace as soon as possible so that the proper accommodations can be made. If you need to leave earlier due to “morning sickness” or take a longer lunch break for your doctor’s appointment, having your manager aware of your situation might make them more accommodating.
- How family-friendly is the culture at your place of work. This is something that you should be able to gauge for yourself and by talking to other women who have been pregnant at your company. This may differ vastly from one workplace to the next, so it will require your judgement as to whether you feel comfortable sharing the news early on or waiting.
Regardless of the above considerations, there are both federal and state laws that offer protection against discrimination, such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. These laws might offer you protection if you feel that you’ve been treated differently or passted up for promotion due to being pregnant (you do have to perform your job, however.)
Once you’ve decided to tell your boss, make sure to go into the meeting prepared. Rather than just mentioning it to him or her casually, set aside some time to talk in private. Come prepared with a specific proposal for when and for how long you plan to take your maternity leave (read this article for more on that), as well as ideas for how your absence can be mitigated. Be honest and up-front about your plans. This will help address your manager’s chief concerns as well as show that you are being proactive. However, you should also be ready to compromise if needed - such as being more flexible on the timing of your leave. Your boss will be much more supportive if they know that you are working with them, rather than being set on your own terms.
Although it may feel a bit awkward, having that first conversation with your boss will be an important step in easing at least some of the anxiety and uncertainty associated with being pregnant on the job. If you are fortunate enough to have a supportive boss (and I do believe that most of them are!), it will make balancing your pregnancy and work much easier.
posted on August 26th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
posted on September 25th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
posted on July 20th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
posted on July 20th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
posted on August 29th, 2010 at 3:31 am
posted on August 29th, 2010 at 4:08 am
posted on August 29th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
posted on August 29th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
posted on September 5th, 2010 at 12:12 am
posted on September 5th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
posted on September 6th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
posted on September 14th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
posted on December 6th, 2010 at 5:17 am
posted on December 18th, 2010 at 5:36 am
posted on December 24th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
posted on December 27th, 2010 at 3:21 am
posted on December 29th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
posted on January 9th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
posted on February 3rd, 2011 at 6:20 am
posted on February 3rd, 2011 at 7:41 pm
posted on February 4th, 2011 at 5:52 am
posted on February 6th, 2011 at 7:10 am
posted on March 3rd, 2011 at 2:51 pm
posted on March 3rd, 2011 at 3:34 pm
posted on March 7th, 2011 at 9:41 am
posted on March 8th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
posted on March 10th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
posted on March 30th, 2011 at 5:39 am
posted on March 31st, 2011 at 11:42 am
posted on March 31st, 2011 at 4:37 pm
posted on April 1st, 2011 at 6:44 am
posted on April 1st, 2011 at 9:40 am
posted on April 2nd, 2011 at 7:17 am
posted on April 2nd, 2011 at 8:58 pm
posted on April 3rd, 2011 at 10:21 am
posted on April 4th, 2011 at 11:38 am
posted on April 4th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
posted on April 5th, 2011 at 10:42 am
posted on April 5th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
posted on April 6th, 2011 at 8:25 am
posted on April 6th, 2011 at 10:13 am
posted on April 6th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
posted on April 6th, 2011 at 9:56 pm