I just (like 2 days ago) found out I am pregnant with my 3rd! However, I also just started a new job (like 2 weeks ago). I only work 2 days a week, so its not a 40 hr/wk job. But I feel bad! I plan on returning after the baby, as my MIL will be watching the baby, as she does my other 2 now. But I don't want them to worry or think that I knew this when I started. Its a small paving company- i do bookkeeping and other clerical things (out of there home office- and am the only one in the office- aside from the owner and his wife on occasion). And the owner is super nice. I just don't want to come across the wrong way. This wasn't planned. We were gonna start trying in a couple months, but they decided to come a little sooner. lol. So should I tell them now, or wait a little.
I was thinking sooner, so its not like i was sitting here with the information, but since i just started I don't know if i should wait. ugh
as far as i know, I am only like 5 weeks. I literally JUST took the test after I didn't get my period last week.
My first thought was to wait till after the first trimester. I know that's old-fashioned thinking, but that's me.
But then I wondered whether anyone at work knows anyone in the family. If there's a chance your new boss would hear about it second hand, it would be better to go ahead and tell them so they hear it from you. That way you can give them all the information (I plan on continuing working, I need this many weeks off,etc) at once.
Personally, I wouldn't say anything until you've been to the doctor and been given a def. due date, etc.
I don't see why you have to say anything about it now. And I certainly wouldn't say "I wasn't planning it, but I was planning it for a few months from now." That's not going to help, and it's not information the employer is entitled to. They can't discriminate on the basis of pregnancy. So you can't base your decision on whether it would make you look bad - pregnancy is supposed to be a non-issue in the workplace. That's not the reality, but it is the law.
I would tell him when you have to. If it's a small office and the people tend to be close, then you need to tell him when it's obvious. 4-5 months is fine, later if you want, and it gives them plenty of time to plan for a parental leave, which they are entitled to do. They are entitled to know when you are planning to leave, whether you are planning to come back, and you are only entitled to take the leave that is guaranteed by law. If you want additional considerations, then you have to negotiate those.
Meantime, concentrate on doing a really great job and being a valued employee - which you would do at any new job regardless of pregnancy. When the time comes, let them know how much you like the job and that you plan to take your leave and come back. At that point there might be some discussions of them hiring a temp and maybe you training that person, but right now, you don't even know if you're going to love this job or if they're going to love you. So I wouldn't throw anything else into the mix that, frankly, isn't relevant right now.
I would wait as long as you can to tell them. Right now they barely know you and if you tell them, they may start to look for ways to get rid of you. If you wait you can show them what a good worker you are and they will want to hold your job for you.
While they cannot fire you for being pregnant they can find a way around that, and you won't qualify for FMLA so they don't have to hold your job for you either once you go out.
When I had to tell a boss, I waited until after first trimester AND we heard a heart beat. I lost a pregnancy prior to accepting the job, so I wanted to be as sure as possible and not get ahead of myself.
I'd wait until you are comfortable, but when you share the news also present a plan for transfer of duties, return to work strategies, etc. so they know you are committed (even if 2 days) to the position:)
I told my work too early, honestly, I wish I hadn't told them so soon. I have been with this company for 7 years and at the time I was pregnant I was with them for 4 years. I told my boss as soon as I found out, and the entire pregnancy was stressful. My boss asking me a million questions about my job and what tasks I do and so on. "when will you be back from maternity leave" and so on. I wish I had waited. Meanwhile, my sister just told her company, she's 12 weeks. Heard the heartbeat yesterday and she went right in and told her boss. She's on the brink of going into the second trimester, and to me, that seems a solid time to tell your company. It gives them plenty of time to plan, and you enough time to get through the 1st trimester jitters without feeling even more stressed out.
I would always wait until after the first trimester, personally. They is sort of the point where you know this is a viable pregnancy. Now, if you have really bad morning sickness or some other really obvious symptom before then...you'll have to just tell them.
Ah, you are in my shoes 6 years ago. I started with a SMALL company in late May and became pregnant in early June. My coworke actually told me I was pregnant because broccoli smelled HORRIBLE to me when I normally love it. Plus she dreamed I fell in the water...go figure!
I took some time to go to my doctor and have a real test done, and came back drained of all color. None of ours were planned, but the last one may have been the biggest surprise because we were trying to prevent pregnancy...I thank God daily for the blessing of my children though.
So I went into my bosses office, shut the door, and told her. She breathed a HUGE sigh of relief because she thought something was wrong. She was SO happy for me, that I couldn't help but become excited. I told her the same day I found out...and knew to plan going forward. It just worked out well for me - I hope the same for you!
I'd wait until you pass safely through the first trimester. That still gives them 6 months to arrange for your absence - which is plenty, depending on how long you'll be gone.
When you do tell them, stress how much you like the job and ensure them you WILL be back.
Wait until after 1st trimester when you have that 12 week u/s and know that everything is going as expected. Unless you're the kind of person who gets very sick in the beginning, then you might have to tell sooner so that people don't worry about you. I don't know anyone who would think that keeping this private for 1st trimester is unreasonable.
Wait until you've passed 12 weeks safely and are certain that the pregnancy is viable and healthy. Considering it's only been recently that women couldn't even confirm a pregnancy until 8-to-10 weeks, 5 weeks is VERY early to even find out let alone tell anyone in a professional setting.
I think you should wait til after the 1st trimester 12 week until you know that your pregnant. I told my boss that I was pregnant about 3 weeks after I took the test.
I say, when it is appropriate to the job. I would agree with waiting until after 1st trimester, or even later, since your job should not be affected by pregancy. I told my boss much earlier (about 6 weeks, when I had only known for about 3 weeks) because I work in a lab and handle harmful chemicals. I probably could've waited a bit longer, but I was scheduled to get my rabies vaccination and that is not recommended when pregnant.
One day we were having a discussion about when each person was getting vaccinations (the $$ had just come through for us to go ahead with it). I said "Um, I don't think I should get mine." Her, "well, if you're sick, you can just wait a few weeks until you're feeling better?" Me "yeah, it might be more like 8 months before I'm 'feeling better!'" Her eyes got all big and we had the talk right then and there. :) I waited until dd was almost 2 before finally getting it (since I was breastfeeding).
I had the impression that they were not expecting me to come back (or stay) after maternity leave, but after a very fast 9 weeks, I did. When we start trying for #2 and are successful, I will probably let them know around the same time ~8weeks, mostly just so I can be sure to avoid as much risk as possible.
If your boss is as nice as you say he is, then he will understand. I'd tell him ASAP; because you just can't hide being pregnant and if you wait too long, it makes you look dishonest. You need to keep a good rapport with your boss so if you do have to take off due to complications, you can get your job back. It's all about being a responsible adult. You can explain to him the situation, that you didn't know. How are you planning to hide morning sickness? You can't tell you body not to get queasy on the 2 days you work. Some women start showing in the first trimester, so are you going to tell him you're just gaining a little weight? Also, when you have to tell him it will be obvious when you got prego since everyone knows how long it takes for a woman to carry and give birth. Then you will have kept a secret and how would that look? You've got to be honest with your boss. They can't fire you because you're pregnant, and that's the law. I remember one of our workers got pregnant. She started having symptoms like nausea, light headedness, tiredness, and extremely hungry all the time. We were worried about her and let her eat to try to keep her blood sugar up while encouraging her to see the doctor. She claimed it was her diabetes, but we knew it was more. Quess what? She finally confessed. We congratulated her, and she told us she was afraid to tell us. We told her she never should have been afraid...It's good news, but she did have us very worried so it would have eased our minds if she told us earlier.