If you aren't showing yet, you'll have to decide whether you want to say anything. Just like telling your boss you're pregnant, there are no rules that say you have to tell a prospective employer. You may worry that you'll lose your chance for the job if you disclose your pregnancy – it's a valid concern.
Hiding your pregnancy could cause scheduling problems down the line if you get the job. For example, the company might not have adequate time to prepare for your maternity leave and may question why you didn't disclose pregnancy earlier. It's ultimately your choice what you choose to share.
You will need to tell your employer earlier if you are concerned about health and safety risks at work or to take paid time off for antenatal care. You should also bear in mind that you are only likely to have protection against pregnancy discrimination once you have told your employer that you are pregnant.
The choice is up to you
As we said above, a lot of women choose to announce their pregnancy at the end of the first trimester because the risk of miscarriage is greatly reduced and their pregnancy “bump” may no longer be easy to hide.
When should I tell my manager that I'm pregnant? One concrete recommendation is to notify your employer at the end of the first trimester (12-13 weeks). Around this time, some women begin to show, and the risk of miscarriage is lower.
If you're entitled to paid maternity leave, you must tell your employer you're pregnant no later than the 15th week before your baby is due. You must tell them: you're pregnant.
When should I tell my employer I'm pregnant? Legally, you need to tell your employer that you're pregnant at least 15 weeks before your due date; this is known as your 'notification week'.
There is no law saying you need to inform your employer of your pregnancy at any specific time, but some companies may have their own requirements. Check your award, agreement or contract. You need to give your employer 10 weeks' notice if you are planning to take parental leave.
Hiring Managers Can't Discriminate Against Pregnant People
(In fact, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) forbids pregnancy-based discrimination in the workforce. And legally pregnant people don't have to tell a potential employer they are expecting.)
In most cases, it's best to switch jobs early in your pregnancy. If this is true for your situation and needs, start a job search as early as possible. This can give you plenty of time to research new positions and transition into a new role.
It is important to know that a pregnant employee has legal protections, including the right not to disclose their pregnancy to their employer. There is no requirement under the Fair Work Act 2009 (2009) for an employee to notify their employer of their pregnancy.
You may need to deliver your resignation within a notice period that is standard to your company, though there could be exceptions. For example, you could have a doctor's note that states you need to resign immediately due to pregnancy complications.
If you want to resign from your job when you are pregnant, you should hand in your notice in the normal way, giving the notice period required by your employer. Your job will end at the end of your notice period and you are entitled to continue to receive your normal pay and benefits during the notice period.
It is a good idea to include the 'Note to employers' in your email or letter. Dear [name of employer], I am writing to notify you that I am pregnant. Please could you assess any health and safety risks that arise during my pregnancy or that may affect my baby and take reasonable action to remove any risks.
You may want to tell them earlier to claim health and safety protection, or paid time-off for antenatal care. If you start a new job after the 15th week before the baby is due, you should tell your employer immediately that you start.
Most people can continue working during pregnancy. Being pregnant, however, might present challenges in the workplace. To stay healthy and productive on the job, you need to understand how to relieve common pregnancy discomforts — and know when a work task might jeopardize the pregnancy.
Recommendations. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists makes the following recommendations: Working during pregnancy is generally safe. For those in high-risk occupations or with medically complicated pregnancies, work accommodations often can allow for continued safe employment.
You can usually tell your coworkers about your pregnancy as soon as you tell your manager and an HR representative. It might be helpful to confirm any specific details with your manager before sharing your announcement to ensure everyone receives the same information.
Most people can submit a claim for some payments as early as 3 months before their baby's due date. If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov you can claim online for: Family Tax Benefit, which includes Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement. Parental Leave Pay.
HR may need to disclose your pregnancy to your supervisor or manager in order to arrange suitable accommodations or plan for your leave for childbirth.
Pregnancy stresses your heart and circulatory system. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by 30 to 50 percent to nourish your growing baby, your heart pumps more blood each minute and your heart rate increases. Labor and delivery add to your heart's workload, too.
A threshold of 100 bpm will be too low for many women and result in unnecessary investigations, while 120 bpm is likely to be too high resulting in false reassurance and the potential to miss important diagnoses.
During pregnancy, the amount of blood pumped by the heart (cardiac output) increases by 30 to 50%. As cardiac output increases, the heart rate at rest speeds up from a normal prepregnancy rate of about 70 beats per minute to as high as 90 beats per minute.
If you think your boss (or company) won't welcome the news, you may want to wait until the 20-week mark (if you can hide it until then) to announce your pregnancy, so you'll have proven your ability to do your job well while pregnant.
A woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy should be allowed to and encouraged to continue working for as long as she chooses. This actually means you can work without interruption until the onset of labor.