Telling work

I'm PETRIFIED!

I'm so not prepared but I'm due in April and they're starting to make plans for a conference in April and want me to attend.

I do not have FMLA because the office is too small, but I'm not really worried about being fired as much as them making my life difficult.

I'm more nervous about this than I am about delivering this child. Please- any advice on how to break the news would be helpful.

Telling work

I manage a small practice, I'm the ONLY full-timer, I have NO FMLA or any sort of coverage. I told them at 15 weeks, and for the last 5 weeks have been preparing each person who is taking over my daily tasks. Of course, there are things they won't be able to do, and sorry the doc will have to deal. I'm taking 6 weeks if vaginal delivery and 8 weeks for c-section, basically when my doctor will clear me to go back. I also plan on working as late as possible (I'm already 33+ weeks and still working), if I have to, I'll cut down to 1/2 days or work 1/2 day every other day for however long just to make it through. If I start progressing, or wake up with contractions I will NOT be going in to work because work is about 1 & 1/2 hours away from my hospital during rush hour (Smithtown to LIJ/New Hyde Park).

How have other pregnancies worked in your office in the past?

Re: Telling work

As far as I know, I'm the 1st. I don't think there's a precident for this sort of thing. I work with alot of men.

I'm hoping to work up until I go into labor. I have no idea what their disability policy is because we don't have an HR department and its not in the employee handbook.

I know this is supposed to be a blessing and I would love if my bosses are just happy for me and that's it, but I feel like its going to start a full on panic and I just wanted to avoid dealing with this for at least another month!

Telling work

I felt the same (with both pregnancies) ... but I think it's like a band-aid ... you just have to rip it off quickly and it feels better afterwards.

I work in a large company so I did have FMLA ... and while I still don't think my bosses were really actually happy for me, they never said anything negative so that's fine by me.

With my first, I was due on the 14th ... I started working from home on the 1st of the month (and gave birth on the 17th). I plan on doing basically the same thing this time around.

Re: Telling work

Think about it like this - Your boss and colleagues may appreciate the advance notice so they will be prepared as possible.

FMLA isn't the be all and end all. I was laid off from my job at 30+ weeks pregnant. Totally legal. My point? Just because you have coverage, it doesn't protect you from every scenario. Just tell them and deal with whatever consequences you may have to face. In the end, who cares? You're gonna have a baby!

Telling work

I don't know how they will react, but if they are planning for an April conference you need to tell them sooner then later. DH got forced into telling his boss earlier then we planned because they started talking about sending him to China for 3 weeks in February. With me due 4/4 we thought that was a really bad idea.

It's really hard. I had to tell my boss immediately, like before my IVF transfer, because my job is extremely labor intensive and it limited a lot of my ability to do the whole job. I needed his help to come up with a plan. But he is also an old family friend so that made it easier.

Of course what I didn't expect was, when I told my boss I wouldn't be able to help with the store opening in March or First Day of Spring Free Ice Day, he sold the store. He had talked about selling it to me, but he didn't think that was going to work (without talking to me about it first). And he didn't want to deal with the store this spring without me running it. So I have no job to go back to after baby is born.

Telling work

I don't have disability here, we don't have the 15 required employees. I just have been saving as much as possible since I found out so that I can continue paying my student loans and contributing what I have been to the household bills.... Though, we are extremely blessed, DH covers the mortgage and a little extra, so I've only needed to contribute a little bit every month to utilities.

Re: Telling work

I just basically said that I can't make the conference in April because we had a family obligation during that time- not really lying, but hopefully it buys me some time.

Re: Telling work

I was just thinking about this this morning. With my first I told my boss at 16 weeks with this one I want to hold off as much as I can. My goal is 20 weeks but we will see it depends how fast I show with this second pregnancy.

I think you don't have an obligation to tell them until the time is right for you good luck

Re: Telling work

Posted by SPERM1NATED

I just basically said that I can't make the conference in April because we had a family obligation during that time- not really lying, but hopefully it buys me some time.

Telling work

This is definitely a hard part of pregnancy. But you never know how they will take it. They can totally surprise you. I do get FMLA but I was terrified telling them because it definitely inconveniences them somewhat. Well they were so awesome about it and have been nothing but supportive. And they were genuinely happy and excited for me. Now I don't know why I ever worried. Hoping it goes well for you too! You may get such a positive reaction that you didn't expect!

Re: Telling work

Posted by shellbebaby

Posted by SPERM1NATED

I just basically said that I can't make the conference in April because we had a family obligation during that time- not really lying, but hopefully it buys me some time.

your lucky that works. With DH he basically has to give him an exact reason to get out of things.