When to Tell Your Boss You're Pregnant (Example Email)

Here's when to tell work you are pregnant. Or when you should tell your boss, you're pregnant. Being pregnant is a beautiful moment in your life, but you may be unsure how and when to inform your boss. When the time comes, carefully arranging your announcement might assist you in making a seamless transition to maternity leave.

When should you inform your boss you're pregnant?

Most women wait until the end of their first trimester or the start of their second trimester to get pregnant. This timetable also happens to fall when most women begin to exhibit indications of pregnancy.

Consider any difficulties you're dealing with.

If you suffer severe morning sickness or need to see the doctor frequently, tell your partner as soon as possible. This may make it easier for your company to work around your schedule.

Part of your selection should be based on your duties.

Consider talking about it early on if you're part of a small team that depends significantly on you for productivity. Your team should have as much time as possible to transfer workloads and responsibilities to prepare for your absence.

Tips: Preparing for your pregnancy announcement

To make sure you include all of the critical information in your pregnancy announcement, follow these guidelines:

Find out what your company's rules are.

If you want to learn more about your company's maternity leave rules, contact to HR. Find out who you need to notify for your departure to be processed. In addition to your immediate supervisor, you may need to tell a specific HR specialist. You may also consult your company's handbook, which should contain all pertinent information on best practices and regulations for pregnancy announcements and maternity leave.

Prepare a rough plan.

If you want to return to work, make a rough plan for coverage while you're away. Make a list of possible alternatives for how your team can handle your responsibilities while you are away. You might also think about how long you want to be on leave for. Having a strategy can relieve some of the pressure from your boss and coworkers and demonstrate your commitment to continuing working.

Officialize it.

Make a time to meet with your boss to discuss the next steps. If the employee handbook suggests that you talk with HR first, set up a meeting with both parties. Discussing the plan's contents with both HR and your supervisor ensures that everyone is on the same page. Take this occasion, in addition to announcing your pregnancy, to clarify your maternity leave plans and timing.

Make a written record of your talk so that everyone may refer back to it. Send a follow-up email after your chat, thanking your boss for the meeting and outlining all of the covered things.

Should I tell my boss I'm pregnant at 8-weeks?

Probably not. It's best to wait until you're at the 12-week mark to inform your boss that you're pregnant.

When is it OK to inform your boss that you are expecting a child?

There is no right or wrong moment to notify your boss you're pregnant, but most women wait until after their first trimester – when the risk of miscarriage gets significantly reduced – and before their pregnancy begins to show. Finally, it would help if you judged based on your comfort levels and maybe your connection with your supervisor.

No rule or legislation specifies when you must inform your employer that you are pregnant, but telling your supervisor within a reasonable time frame will allow you more time to organize your maternity leave. It will also offer you time to talk about what you'll do if anything unexpected happens during your pregnancy, such as if you need to reduce your work hours, change your job responsibilities, or quit working sooner than intended.

Other considerations for when to inform your boss that you're pregnant include:

Do you have a lot of pregnancy signs and symptoms? If you're having morning sickness, calling in sick more frequently than usual, or just feeling tired, you should let your manager know sooner rather than later. Notifying people of your situation might help them be more patient and understanding and reduce your stress levels throughout pregnancy.

Do you operate in a physically demanding environment or with hazardous chemicals? If this is the case, you should inform your employer as soon as possible so that you may consider modifying your job duties in a safe and timely way. Working in physically demanding jobs or among hazardous substances while pregnant might lead to difficulties. Based on your pregnancy and risk factors, an ob-gyn or midwife can help you develop suitable solutions. (If necessary, they'll also offer a note.)

What do you anticipate the reaction will be to the news? This is dependent on the culture of your job, whether previous pregnancies of your coworkers have had a positive or harmful impact on the working atmosphere, and your relationship with your employer. Some women prefer to wait a little longer or time for their announcement to coincide with the completion of a project or a performance assessment.

It's natural to be concerned that your supervisor may treat you differently because you're pregnant, but it's crucial to remember that you can still do your work as an expectant mother. Pregnant women can continue to work successfully after announcing their pregnancy, and their managers and employers are often supportive.

Email telling your boss you're pregnant

Below is an email example telling a boss you're pregnant.

Use the following email subject lines:

• Exciting news to share
• My life is going to be changing

Example email telling your boss and coworkers that you're pregnant

Dear Sam,

It's an exciting time for me. I am pregnant! I have been waiting to share the news until it is official. I've researched the company's policies on maternity leave. And I would like to meet with you to discuss the leave logistics.

I also want you to know that I've been experiencing severe morning sickness. And that this could cause some issues for me in the next few weeks.

I don't want to get treated differently in the office, even with my upcoming leave. This should not have any impact on my performance in the workplace.

Thanks so much, Sam!

Karen

What you should know before telling your boss you're expecting

Before you inform your boss you're pregnant, there are a few things you should know (and do).

Recognize your workplace rights. Any organization with more than 15 workers get prohibited from discriminating against someone pregnant under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). Your employer can't legally terminate you because you're pregnant in most situations.

Because you're expecting a child, your employer can't reduce your hours, demote you, or terminate you, according to the PDA. Employers must also offer appropriate working accommodations for pregnant women, such as providing longer toilet breaks or a place to sit if a healthcare physician recommends their patient should not be standing for lengthy periods.

Just because they cannot perform these things does not mean that they will not occur. Knowing your workplace rights while speaking with your supervisor, on the other hand, may give you more confidence in seeking these adjustments and knowing that you are legally entitled to them.

Examine your company's policy to see whether you're eligible for any paid family leave or other perks. You don't need to be an expert – and you'll have plenty of time to ask your HR department questions before your maternity leave – but knowing what advantages you have is helpful.

Begin by determining how much paid leave you have, if any. Some employers provide paid parental leave, but it is also controlled by state and federal family leave and disability legislation, which vary based on where you reside and the size of your employer. It would help if you attempted to find out how long you must work at your firm to be eligible for maternity leave and how much notice you must give when you want your leave to begin, among other things.

If you're considering taking unpaid leave, evaluate how long you can go without receiving a salary. Then figure out how much time you believe you'll need and start drafting a plan, which should include some ideas for how your job will get handled while you're gone. When you inform your supervisor you're pregnant, you don't need to have a detailed plan to give to them, but it's a good idea to have some broad responses prepared if they have questions.

How to tell your boss you're pregnant or expecting a child

Tell your supervisor you're expecting a child in person. This message allows you to break the news immediately, is the most straightforward approach to communicate, and will enable you to witness your boss's response directly, whether it's an in-person meeting or a video conversation if you're working from home.

Plan to notify your supervisor before telling other coworkers to avoid your boss hearing about your news through the grapevine. Hearing the news straight from you is likely to be appreciated and respected.

You don't have to have your complete maternity leave plan sorted out the moment you find out. Later, you can schedule separate meetings with your supervisor and HR to discuss maternity leave details, such as how long you want to take and when you plan to start. Still, your employer will appreciate hearing that you've thought about it and are eager to build a plan for handling your responsibilities while you're gone.

It's difficult to foresee how you'll feel once you've had a kid (and for a few months afterward) and what your family's time and financial demands will be. However, if you think you'll go back to work, it's a good idea to have this option open. If you know you won't be returning after maternity leave, you owe your supervisor to inform them, even forfeiting your paid or unpaid leave benefits.

Be professional and self-assured. Let your supervisor know how pleased you are with the news and how much you cherish your working relationship. Though it's reasonable to be concerned about how your boss or coworkers would respond, don't feel bad about announcing your pregnancy.

What if your boss isn't on board with your pregnancy news?

Even though the Medical Leave Act (FMLA) outlaws discrimination against pregnant women, the unpleasant reality is that your supervisor or coworkers may not be supportive of your announcement. They may be concerned that you won't return, that your work will suffer from your pregnancy, or that your duties will be transferred to them.

Try to answer in a professional, pleasant, and firm manner, and let your supervisor know that you're dedicated to making a seamless transition for everyone involved. If things don't improve, contact your company's human resources department, designated HR expert, or corporate headquarters, who should treat all accusations of discrimination seriously - and discreetly if you want to stay anonymous.

You should see an employment attorney if you believe you were demoted, laid off, or fired after disclosing your pregnancy. You may also learn more about pregnancy discrimination at the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

If you're interviewing while pregnant, here's what you should say.

It is entirely up to you whether or not to bring up your pregnancy during a job interview. Employers should be aware that asking if you're pregnant is discriminatory - and may pose a legal danger.

If you're pregnant while interviewing, it's good to bring up the subject after you've focused on your talents, experience, and excitement for the job. Prepare to address questions about the practicalities of your maternity leave and your ambitions to return to work by professionally stating your plans. Following that, you may weave your post-baby goals into the conversation without making them the interview's primary focus.

If you haven't yet shown, you'll have to determine whether or not to speak. There are no regulations that say you have to notify a prospective employer, just as there are no rules that say you have to tell your boss you're pregnant.

You may be concerned that revealing your pregnancy would jeopardize your job application – and this is a reasonable fear. While the Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits employers from making employment choices based on pregnancy, proving that's why they turned you down might be difficult. On the other hand, if your possible new employer is unwilling to hire you because you're pregnant, it might indicate a work atmosphere that isn't family-friendly, and that job may not be the greatest match for you anyhow.

You can wait until after you've accepted a job offer to share your news, but you could feel less nervous if you tell it right away. It is entirely up to you to make your selection.