ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > September > 25 > Entry
Telling the boss you’re pregnant
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Having a child is an exciting time. The question after the fabulous news is how do you tell your boss you are pregnant when there is already too much work for you and the current staff to handle?
Radio Silence: Don’t tell employees you are pregnant before telling your boss, unless they are great friends and trust is not an issue. The worst way for a boss to find out you are pregnant is through office gossip. It is always best to tell your boss first.
Don’t Jump the Gun: Wait until your second trimester to tell your boss unless you are showing early. Then rather than office speculation you are being professional in how you deliver the news to your boss.
Due Diligence is Key: Know your rights. Pull out the old employee manual probably covered in dust and figure out what your company expects. Look over the local and federal laws associated with pregnancy in the workplace. You probably know how it has worked out with other women in the office in these situations. Knowledge is power.
Professionalism is key in these situations. Be sure you are confident, understand your rights and are positive. The nicest thing you can do for your boss is be realistic and honest.
Do you have any advice on how to make this a smooth and exciting time without drama or stress? How soon should you tell your boss that you are pregnant?
Comments
By johndoe
September 26, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Well if Obama wins there will be no need to to tell the boss because if you are pregnanet just have an abortion…. That is what Obama wants anyhow… PALIN/MCCAIN 2008! The boss has the right to know ur preg so vote for McCain!
By Richard Crass
September 26, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
Just as soon as you confirm it’s his.
By ATLien
September 26, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
As soon as you confirm the results from your OB. Once I knew the doctor visit schedule that was ahead of me and my due date, I alerted my manager and my team. It gave my manager and team time to plan for my leave and me enough time to train and transition my duties during my leave.
By johndoe is dumb
September 26, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
that comment was uninformed, unintelligent, and ignorant.
By Lou
September 26, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Tell your boss whenever it suits you…most managers know that the majority of women will become pregnant…and of course the men and women left in the workplace will take over their workload..and if and when the mother returns to the office there will be a lot of dr’s appointments etc.so you really do not get a 100 percent from the mother probably never will..there will always be something for her to attend to. and that is the way it is….women long ago started receiving equal pay but i have never seen equal work..just doesn’t happen…
By PurpleOne
September 26, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
I agree with waiting until the 2nd trimester only because most natural miscarriages happen in the 1st trimester and then you will not have to deal with not only family but now co-workers expressing sympathy for the loss. Been there, done that and people don’t know what to say. 5-6 more months should be plenty of time to prepare the office for your absence.
By JD
September 26, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Why is there always a Lou? Nothing like a neanderthal on the board to start the day off with a sexist comment. Not only are you a pig since women work just as hard as men (if not hard due to misogynists like you), but you’re also wrong - women statistically do not get paid as much as men. I wonder if some poor woman puts up with you at home. If so, I pity her.
By Obama all the way
September 26, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
JohnDoe, you make you and your party (Republicans) look like complete idiots. It is no wonder people are overwhelming voting for Obama. You use lies, poor judgement and deceit to try and get a point across. People are not stupid and the crazy thing is you don’t even realize how RIDICULOUS and out of touch with current day you sound.. poor soul.. seriously !! Who in the right mind would say Obama wants someone to get an aborting, what a wierdo you are. He has 2 beautiful children he loves. UNLIKE PALIN who is looking to take the womens movement back decades, he respects a womans right to choose. YOU ARE A MAN, who are you to say such awful words. No you are not a MAN. A true and respectful man you know better. YOU ARE A POOR EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING. SHAME ON YOU.
By Whyallowleave?
September 26, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
I have never understood the gubment forcing an employer to let a woman have 3 months off work! I mean come on, if you can be gone for 3 months and not replaced, you arent really that important! Let employers have THEIR say so in THEIR business, not the gubment.
By beentheredonethat
September 26, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Johndoe- you really need to get a life! you are really ignorant!! what does John McCain have to do with the subject at hand? Is he the boss, then that’s the only reason he should have been mentioned on this blog..must you make every single issue/discussion/ political…damn!!!
By JD
September 26, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
I was so indignant, I forgot to respond. A woman has the right to wait until she is comfortable. Most women want to wait until the largest miscarriage risk passes for the exact reason PurpleOne said. I can’t imagine how awful a miscarriage would be, but it would certainly be terrible to get all kinds of comments on top of the actual agony. Even if you wait until mid-second trimester, that still gives your employer plenty of time to make plans.
By RightOn
September 26, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
My new bumpersticker: PEOPLE WITH POOR COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR OBAMA
By Lorena
September 26, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
you do know that this day in time that fathers take maternity leaves as well? right? Mothers arent the only ones that go to appointments and things such as that for their children. Some fathers care about their kids as well.Oh yeah and the obama comment… you do know that he ISNT the only politician ever in the world that believes in abortion, and wont be the last… so move on with your life. He isnt FOR abortion and sporting the logo “have you had your abortion today?” He is just pro-choice, he isnt saying “hey go have an abortion” he is just saying, hey we ought to have a choice. and FYI, I’m not even an Obama fan, I’m just getting tired of reading the same old thing, its no longer original, so stop it please.
By RightOn
September 26, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Lorena - we read your comments 4 times - so stop it please.
By OhMy
September 26, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
RightOn, Did you really have to read it all four times to realize it was the same?
By Gloria
September 26, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Tell the boss you are pregnant as soon as you find out. The best and only way to beak the news is… “Boss, I am giving you my two weeks notice because I am pregnant and want to be the best possible mother to my child”. Your boss will be pleased he gets to replace you with a reliable employee. You may even get a bonus for leaving on such good, honest terms.
Mother’s should not work - period. The candidate (no names - don’t want this to get political:) that promises equal pay for women is delusional. Woman don’t deserve equal pay because we don’t do an equal job in the workplace. Females make horrible bosses to begin with - no one wants to work them because they are so hateful. The fact that they are impossible to work with and that they are child bearers are reason enough for woman to be held back. Besides, most woman that get pregnant these days are single and do so for selfish reasons (I have no one to love me) and have become the biggest burden on the workplace environment.
So, ladies - don’t kid yourself. Simply put - if you decide that you want children - the best thing you can do is quit! No one wants to work with a female with children.
By Reality
September 26, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Don’t tell your boss, tell his wife about his upcoming child support….
By SA
September 26, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
A woman should tell her boss when she’s comfortable doing so. I agree that it’s probably wise to wait until the second trimester.
By getalife
September 26, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
Obama all the way — a bit touchy this morning???
Take a deep breath and say “wealth redistribution, higher taxes, and supporting the bottom feeders of our society is good”….
By SW
September 26, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Gloria—how dare you think of something so stupid and actually validate your stupidity by posting it on this great article? Some of the most remarkable and well-educated women (who happen to be mothers also) are running billion-dollar companies. Just because you can’t get anywhere in the job world with your lack of a brain and someone (who I am guessing was a woman)was probably smart enough to fire you doesn’t mean that all women should quit. I have a great job making more money than you would ever see in your lifetime(even with your welfare and food stamps combined) and I have a husband, a 3 year daughter, and pregnant with my second child right now. I told my boss during my second trimester and he was very understanding and I WILL have a job (still making more money than you) when I get back. So, do us all a favor and NEVER reproduce because we don’t need any more people in our country like you running around saying idiotic comments and trying to bring us back into the Stone Age.
By RightOn
September 26, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Yeah - I’m kind of an obsessive-compulsive that way - I kept thinking that maybe something was added or changed and I didn’t want to miss it.
By SE
September 26, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
SW - I am so impressed by you - you can’t believe how turned on I am right now. Wanna go out some time?
By MCM
September 29, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Wow. I am amazed at some of the stunningly ignorant comments on here. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. Clearly this is not a crowd that gives two you-know-whats about family values. AJC, isn’t ANYBODY moderating these comments???