HR is an agent of your employer and shouldn't share personal information about your pregnancy without your consent. If HR, co-workers or managers engage in derogatory remarks or jokes about your pregnancy, this could be pregnancy discrimination or harassment.
Tips for telling your boss you're pregnant
Plan to tell your boss before you tell other co-workers, to avoid any chance of your boss hearing about your news through the grapevine. They'll likely appreciate and respect hearing the news directly from you.
Ultimately, however, the choice is entirely up to you and you are not legally required to disclose the information until the 30 days needed to take time under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), as long as your company is covered by FMLA.
Consider how far along you are
Usually, most women wait until the end of their first trimester or the beginning of their second trimester. But everyone should make their own decision.
Try this: I'm thrilled to share the news that I'm pregnant! I'm due in [number of weeks], but as you've seen my work output has not changed. I'd like work with you to devise a plan so there's coverage during my maternity leave, and in the meantime, I've pulled together notes on [your daily tasks].
Communicating with your line manager
By law, you don't need to tell your employer you're pregnant until the end of the 15th week before your due date (when you're 25 weeks pregnant). But it's best to tell them as soon as possible, especially if you have physical symptoms like sickness and need their support.
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.
Timing is contextual for your working situation, but most women inform their manager towards the end of the first trimester. Some women wait a little longer if an important decision is being made about their career at the company.
An employer should not ask an employee if they are pregnant, even if they show physical signs. If the employer has genuine health and safety concerns for the employee, they should enquire in a sensitive and confidential manner.
Many women choose to wait until after their 12 week scan to tell their employer they are pregnant. However, you may want to consider telling your boss before this point if you are… It's important to bear in mind that your line manager or HR department ought to be the first to know before you tell colleagues.
Remain calm, professional and try not to worry; it is illegal for a company to sack you just because you're pregnant or plan to go on maternity leave. However, if you really are concerned about anything negative, it might be worth waiting until the 20th week to disclose your news (if you can).
Plenty of women secure new jobs during pregnancy, and there are laws to protect you. Thanks to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, employers (or would-be employers) with 15 or more employees can't make job decisions based on pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act also protects those seeking employment. This means that an employer cannot refuse to hire a qualified person simply based on their being pregnant or the assumption that they will soon become pregnant due to their age or stage in life.
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.
There is no defined upper limit of normal for heart rate in pregnancy, but thorough history and basic investigations should be carried out in all pregnant women with a persistent tachycardia. Premature complexes (atrial and ventricular) are the most common finding on electrocardiography (ECG).
Treat your initial meeting with Human Resources with them as a fact-finding mission. Take notes throughout the conversation, and send an email afterward confirming your understanding of the policy. This is especially important since few companies have a comprehensive policy in writing.
You still do not have to disclose your pregnancy, but it may be more likely to come up naturally, especially if you're interviewing in person rather than via a video call. If you decide to disclose, you are technically protected under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
After 26 weeks: There should be no extended work hours, with a 40-hour week being the maximum for the employee/patient. No travel further than 50 miles is allowed.
The body working overtime to support a pregnancy might cause tiredness — and resting during the workday can be tough. It might help to: Eat foods rich in iron and protein. Fatigue can be a symptom of iron deficiency anemia but adjusting your diet can help.
These early weeks can feel overwhelming; you might feel both excited and terrified. "Pregnancy is a huge milestone, and it's OK to be in your feelings about it," says Belen.
Week 5. The rate of miscarriage at this point varies significantly. One 2013 study found that the overall chance of losing a pregnancy after week 5 is 21.3%.
There's no right or wrong time to tell people you're pregnant. It's up to you to decide what's best for you and, if you have a partner, you may want to decide together. Some people choose to wait until after they've had the first ultrasound scan. It's your baby, so it's up to you.