When to tell Employer about Pregnancy Australia

Having a baby is such a magical experience, and some people can’t wait to shout the news from the rooftops. Other people sometimes prefer to keep the news quiet in the beginning. Some people prefer to keep things ‘mum’ even longer than that. Who you tell, including your employer and when you tell them is entirely your choice.

Let’s Get Legal

While I stand by my earlier comment that it is your choice who you tell and when, I should probably point out the government requirements. From a legal perspective, there are very few circumstances where you have to tell your employer straight away.

Working with hazardous materials such as lead make sharing your news early mandatory. Yet, in most circumstances, you are only obliged to tell your employer if you plan to make use of employee entitlements. If you plan to take parental leave under the ‘Fair Work Act’ you are required to give your employer a minimum of ten weeks written notice before you plan to start your leave. This and more information can be found at https://supportingworkingparents.humanrights.gov.au/

Before Telling Your Employer

Fish out your employee handbook! It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with your company’s policy so that when the time comes to talk about your pregnancy, plans and next steps, you feel prepared and understand your maternity options. A word of advice from personal experience; write down your questions. Write. Them. Down.

No matter how silly they may seem, you should ask them all. It will do wonders for your peace of mind. Pregnancy comes with its own worries and unknowns, and worrying about how your career will be affected should be as low on the list as you can possibly make it.

Most companies will do their utmost to ensure you feel supported throughout your pregnancy and beyond. Whenever you are ready to share your news, make sure your boss is the first to know in the workplace. Being pregnant at work can be challenging enough without the gossip mill making life harder!

Consider Your Employer’s Position

Managing a pregnant employee can be quite a daunting prospect. Your manager has to think about you as the expectant parent as well as the company and its interests. Now that’s not to say being pregnant makes you any less valuable to your employer. The opposite is usually the case. What I am saying is that when it comes to finding the right time to share your news with your boss, you should weigh up what you are obligated to do against what is fair or at least considerate to your employer.

Don’t get me wrong, some people are not necessarily concerned with this, but I urge you to keep your employer’s responsibilities in mind. It is not a simple case of finding and training your replacement. There is a never-ending slew of paperwork, risk assessments and meetings to ensure the safety of you and your baby. Your safety and support will always be their priority, as it should be!

Is it the right time for you?

This is, without a doubt, the most important question.

Everyone feels differently when they see those two little lines. Excitement, nerves, relief, fear just to name a few! There are so many factors to consider when choosing the right time to tell your employer.

Let’s talk through some:

• Risk of miscarriage. Medical guidelines state that the risk of miscarriage is much lower after the first 12 weeks. In many cases, that’s the time people typically make their announcement.

• Will people guess? A difficult one to navigate as each pregnancy is different. Some can barely function for morning sickness; others experience no symptoms at all. Some sport a baby bump early on whereas others sometimes barely show for months. Depending on the circumstances, you may struggle to keep your news quiet for long.

• Company values. Is the company you work for a family friendly one? Do they promote a healthy home/work life balance? You may have seen how a colleague’s pregnancy has been managed and want a different experience for yourself. If you are worried about how your news will be received, you may choose to hold off on telling your employer straight away until you’re confident you can still complete your workload whilst pregnant.
• How will your future career be affected? Often people worry about feeling ‘pushed out’ of their role, especially as you are usually still there when your replacement is chosen and trained. Other people worry about if and when they will return to work. These thoughts pave the way for thinking about how you will be affected financially, your childcare options or even if you want to amend your working hours.

All of these are things to consider before telling your employer, giving you more time to prepare for your family’s future.

Final Thoughts

I personally went through quite a traumatic pregnancy. So when I found out I was pregnant with my youngest son, fear was my overriding emotion. I was torn between keeping it secret in case something went wrong or telling people and letting them help me.

In the end, I chose the best of both worlds. I told my family and the next person I told was my manager at work. That may seem strange or silly to some, telling my boss before telling my friends, but I needed the peace of mind that I would be supported at work, particularly in the beginning.

In reality, most people who work full time often find themselves spending more time at work than at home, and it was so important to me to be able to communicate what I needed right from the start. One thing I will say is communication is key. Don’t be afraid to tell your employer what you need. More breaks? Tell them. Want to work closer to an available bathroom? Tell them. They will work with you. That is one benefit to telling them early.

Now, that doesn’t mean you need to tell them the minute you find out. Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, most people need time to wrap their own heads around the news. Just be sure to remember that the sooner you feel comfortable enough to tell your employer, the sooner they can set in motion the steps to keep you both mentally supported and physically safe.