How to Tell Your Boss That You’re Having a Baby

Before the big social media announcement (unless you’re far too cool for such a thing, of course) and before the bump starts to require its own postcode, there’s someone else you will need to tell: your boss. Legally, you need to notify your employer of your pregnancy in writing at least 15 weeks before your due date - but since, by 25 weeks pregnant, it’s likely to be pretty obvious (and it’s likely that you’ll have needed to take time off for appointments), most people share the news a little earlier on; as long as you hit the deadline, it’s really up to you.  

Of course, if you’re self-employed, this is less of an issue (although you may well have clients you’ll need to give a heads-up to at some point) but if you work for a company, big or small, the person you report to is going to need to hear the big news relatively early in your pregnancy. And there’s a lot to consider, depending on the type of job you have, the sort of company you work for, and the relationship you have with the person who pays your wages and keeps you in free post-its. Keep reading for a few pointers…  

How to tell your boss you're pregnant if you don't get on very well

If you don’t have such a good relationship with your boss, you might feel very nervous about sharing your happy news. In this scenario, we’d recommend arranging a meeting and being armed with any facts you can share: for instance, your due date and any time off you know you’ll need to take for impending appointments. Don’t worry, though, once your employer knows you’re pregnant, you’re protected from pregnancy-related discrimination. If you have an HR department, it’s best to drop them an email around the same time, letting them know you’ve shared the news and asking about any next steps.

How to tell your boss you're pregnant if you work in a high-risk role

More jobs than you might think can become a little riskier when you’re carrying a baby. If you’re on your feet a lot, or you drive a lot, if you work with chemicals or in a medical role, if you’re hunched over a computer all day, if you have a job that is particularly stressful (so that covers most jobs, right?), your employer should offer a risk assessment.

Sometimes this is routine and no real changes will need to be made to your day to day activity while you’re pregnant, but in other circumstances, there might be steps that need to be taken in order to protect the health of you and your baby, such as changing your work location or the types of duties you carry out. This might make you feel a bit awkward but it shouldn’t - you’re carrying precious life in there and you’re legally protected from discrimination.  You can find out more on what this involves and your rights here

How to tell your boss that your partner is pregnant

If you’re not the one carrying the baby, it’s still sensible to tell your employer about your expanding family whenever you feel comfortable. Depending on how up to speed they are on all things baby, you might need to let them know that you’re entitled to paid time off to accompany your partner on appointments, and ask either them or your HR departments about their parental leave policies.  

If *you’re* the boss...  

If you run a company, big or small, the people who work for and with you will need to know you’re pregnant, especially since your absence is likely to have a pretty significant impact on the business. While it’s a good idea to tell them as early as you feel comfortable (it will also nip any swirling gossip in the bud...) it’s helpful if you're armed with a few answers to some of their likely questions and concerns. Who will step up and take on your duties? How long will you be away for?

Even if you can’t give specifics straight away, it’s important they know they can talk to you if there’s anything they’re worried about plus, if you have a good team, they may be able to help you form a plan, providing reassurance for you too if you’re nervous about being away from your first baby: your business!

What you don’t need to tell your boss when you're pregnant

One important thing to bear in mind is that there are a lot of big questions you probably don’t know the answer to yet - so your boss or colleagues certainly won’t either, and nor do they need to. Unsure if you’ll be going back to your job at all once the baby’s here or wondering if you might want to change your job description or hours? That’s your decision to make in your own time, so make sure you don’t feel under any pressure to make these sorts of decisions way before you need to.

Now is also a great time to book a chat with our Baby Brains - our dedicated team of experts on all things baby who can help guide you through the products you need (and don’t need!) and get your very own LittleList ready to shop or share. Just click here to get in touch.