168-169 / 258
How do I tell my boss I’m pregnant?
If the thought of breaking the news to your boss makes you feel
uneasy, don’t worry, this is one of those conversations that plays
out in your head a million times, but is actually not so difficult to
have in reality. The truth is, they probably already have an inkling
that you’re pregnant anyway, especially if you’ve had more
doctor’s appointments than usual or if they noticed you forgoing
your morning coffee.
How and when to tell your boss about your pregnancy can be
very subjective. Much of this depends on the relationship you
have with your superior, your office culture and if your boss has
kids of their own. Let’s start with the basics: you don’t actually
need to tell them until after the first trimester, which is when it’s
safe to start spreading the news to your friends and family.
Once you hit the 12 - 16 week mark, you should schedule a time to
speak to your boss. Don’t tell them whilst on the way to a meeting
or when they’re getting ready to leave for the day.Waiting too long
could come across as deceptive, plus you don’t want the news to
leak out before you have had a chance to tell them. Sharing the
news along with the office gossip before you tell your boss is a
big no-no and there also might be some benefits your company
offers to pregnant women that you’d want to take advantage of.
Make sure to do your homework before your conversation and
read up on your company’s policies regarding maternity leave.
You should also be forthcoming about your intentions to come
back to work after your maternity leave and if there’s a possibility
you’ll want to cut back on hours or not come back at all, the right
thing to do is share this with your boss.
This is also a good time to explore the option of working from
home one or more days a week. Find out if other mamas in your
office work from home and talk to them about their arrangement.
There are definite pros and cons, with seeing the kids during the
day being the biggest positive. You’ll still need a sitter around to
help out, although I have done my fair share of conference calls
with my baby on my boob and the mute button firmly pressed.
RELATIONSHIPS
169