When to tell work I'm pregnant? And thoughts on returning after ML?

Question

I know this has been asked many times before but in my situation I'm on a 3 month probation period and technically not protected by any labor laws in my region during this time. I literally found out I was pregnant just hours after I accepted the offer for this job. It's a job I had been searching a long time for and would like to continue working at after my maternity leave.

I'm 15 weeks now and not yet showing. By the end of my probation I'll be 22weeks pregnant.. If I tell my boss now, it would be the nice and courteous thing to do. But that puts me at risk for being let go for 'other reasons'. If I wait until my probation is over, I'm basically unfireable but it may annoy him because I was not open and honest about my situation. I've only been there for 5 weeks so it's difficult to tell how he'll react.

Some of my friends and family say to wait, while others say to do the honest thing. Not sure what to do.

Also, there are a few working moms out there who keep telling me that I won't want to go back after my leave because the baby will 'change everything'. How have your experiences been with returning to work? My leave will be 10 weeks. Office job so no heavy lifting or hazards.

Answer

I'm not sure about when to tell you're work. I can tell you that I was excited to go back to work and that working out of the house made me a better (and less bitter) mom. I appreciated the time with my baby so much more and was more patient when I got to be around other grow ups during the day.

The first day I was away from baby wasn't for work but I was shocked at my physical response to our separation for 6 hours. After that, I've suggested to my new mom friends to do a practice run before daycare. Maybe daddy it G'ma watches the baby and you do other things for a day.

Answer

Depends. I prefer honesty and I'd want to know your plans for returning. As you said, waiting means they can fire you fir no cause. F you're honest now and can work out details so everyone is happy, you might be able to return to the job after some time off.

Answer

Good luck with what you decide. I would personally wait. You are still giving them plenty of time to prepare for your leave if you wait until after your probation period. You can just tell them you wanted to wait until you were further along/comfortable to tell them. They don't have to know that you wanted to wait for other reasons. I'm past my probation but will be waiting to tell my boss at around 15/16 weeks. I told HR yesterday (12 weeks/4 days) because I wanted to find out about my leave options. I will be here under a year when I deliver.  I found out I only get 6 weeks paid. I was under the impression that I would get 13 weeks paid full and 13 weeks at 70%. I read the orientation benefits pamphlet wrong and that was the main reason I took this job. Bummer. I am now trying to decide about my other options and maybe not returning. I work for a big company and my husband would probably be a drama queen about me quitting because he is so "proud of me" for getting in with this company. I just can't imagine putting a little 6 week old in daycare. My first didn't go until he was 2 because we were able to work our schedules so one of us was home. I guess it will all work out in the end.

Answer

I am totally in the same position! I start my first day on Monday for a position I've been waiting for for years! They finally opened up some slots, and I took a 3 yr paid internship, where technically the whole period is my probation period (until I grad next June) and hopefully get offered a full time slot. I haven't told them I'm pregnant yet, but now that I'm entering my second trimester, I would like to let them know. I'm nervous!

When to tell work I'm pregnant? And thoughts on returning after ML?

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