Mixing your personal and professional lives is not always an attractive option. However, pregnancy is not something you can effectively hide, and it’s important for your boss and colleagues to prepare for your absence. While you don’t have to pick up the phone as soon as your pregnancy test shows a positive, you will have to give them ample time to decide what to do while you are away. This is especially important if your job description will need to be altered with respect to the health requirements of pregnancy (i.e. heavy lifting).
Wait Until You’re Positive
It is never a good idea to announce your pregnancy at work unless you are definitely pregnant. First, you might force your boss to make accommodations when none are necessary. Plus, when women find out that they aren’t pregnant, it is often emotionally devastating. The fewer people you have to tell the bad news, the better. The generally-accepted guideline is that you should announce your pregnancy at work by the end of the first trimester because that is when you will begin to show.
Review Policies
So that nothing your boss tells you comes as a shock, review company policy on pregnancy and maternity leave before you announce your pregnancy at work. You can find out how much maternity leave is granted, whether or not you are paid during maternity leave and how much you’ll be compensated. Some employers will pay a portion of the salary to a woman on maternity leave while others will continue the full salary until she returns. If you have a colleague who has been pregnant before, you might ask her about how the situation played out.
Talk to Your Doctor
Not all pregnancies progress by the book, so talk to your doctor before announcing your pregnancy at work and find out if there will be any special circumstances. For example, if this is your second child and you’ve had a cesarean section before, chances are you’ll need to have one again. Women who have cesarean sections often have to take an extended maternity leave, which is something your boss will want to know. Other health conditions, such as an ectopic pregnancy, might require that you remain on bedrest for the final month or two before delivery, so try to get as much information as possible first.
Tell Your Boss in Private
Rather than announcing your pregnancy to the entire office at once, tell your boss in private. Request a brief meeting and ask that he lay out the policy for you, even if you’ve read it in the employee handbook. Let him know that you will complete all current projects before you take maternity leave and that you are available to train your temporary replacement. Don’t be surprised if your boss wants the exact dates of your maternity leave as quickly as possible because he will need to make the necessary preparations.
If You Plan to Quit…
Some expecting mothers will decide to quit their jobs after the baby comes, so be sure to let your boss know if you plan to quit when announcing your pregnancy at work. Make sure that you leave on good terms with your boss because if you ever decide to return to the workforce, having a positive recommendation will be of enormous help.
