Sharing your pregnancy news at work
Are you ready to share your pregnancy news with your boss and co-workers? Whether you tell your boss right away, or wait until later, is up to you. But there are a few personal, legal and practical considerations to take into account when deciding when to share your news.
Your personal decision
Deciding when to tell people you’re pregnant is a personal decision. Many women like to wait until after the end of the first trimester before they share the news, while others tell earlier – especially if they are suffering from morning sickness. Just like deciding when to tell your family and friends, the decision to break the news early or wait until your pregnancy is more advanced is up to you.
Your legal requirements
Many working women are under the impression you’re legally obligated to inform your boss as soon as you know you’re pregnant. In fact, that’s not the case. There’s only one legal requirement to take into account when deciding when to announce your pregnancy at work.
You need to give at least ten weeks’ notice that you’re planning to take parental leave.
Disclosing any further information about your pregnancy is not a legal requirement. However, it’s worth considering the advantages of sharing your news.
Practical considerations
While you don’t need to disclose your pregnancy, there are some advantages to telling your employer or manager early. For example:
- It makes it easier to arrange time off for prenatal appointments
- You may need to make some adjustments to the way you go about your job (for example, access to seating or more frequent toilet breaks)
- If it’s unsafe for you or your baby to do your usual job while you’re pregnant, your manager will need to properly assess the risks and make any necessary changes
Contact FSU for assistance
FSU members are working together to forge a fairer finance industry. If you need help approaching your boss about your pregnancy, or you believe you’re being treated unfairly at work as a result of your pregnancy, contact us for advice.
Keep in mind that the above information is general in nature. For specific advice about your individual situation, contact FSU on 1300 366 378 or via our contact page.