The pregnancy phase has finally dawned upon you—things around you and about you are constantly changing. You may feel too excited or too shy to announce your pregnancy at your workplace. But, you may still be thinking of the right time and approach. Here are a few tips to help you through the initial hiccups of announcing your pregnancy at work.
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1. When To Announce Your Pregnancy
Though you might be excited to announce your pregnancy, the right time to do so may depend on various factors. Usually, moms wait till the second trimester or by the end of the first one, since the possibility of miscarriage reduces considerably by then. Sometimes, it may be good if you mention it earlier so that you can take a leave or a break accordingly. For instance, if you work in a hospital, an early approach and a quick talk with your supervisor may help, considering the risk of infections. If your work involves dealing with chemicals, you might soon want to leave the workplace for good.
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2. How To Tell Your Boss
Don’t let your boss be the last person to know—it becomes awkward if the word goes around. Avoid telling them when they are distracted, in a bad mode or seem busy. Have a tete-a-tete approach—choose an enclosure away from disturbances or on-lookers, make them sit down and let them know you need their cooperation to strike a balance between being a mom and the company’s responsible employee. Be professional and ensure them that it won’t affect your workflow in the coming months.
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3. Know How Your Pregnancy Will Affect Your Job
Make sure there are no big projects coming up as your due date nears. Let your friends know about morning sickness before your symptoms strike and do the same. Inform your boss if you are looking for flexible hours of work or work-from-home option on some days. If you have any travel plans, make sure you are sorted about sticking to them or altering them.
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4. Bring Up The Topic Of Maternity Leave
It is best to go through your company’s maternity leave policies and benefits during pregnancy before bringing up this topic. Schedule a meeting with your HR to discuss the details. Also, you may not be sure whether you will come back to work post pregnancy; your boss may be concerned about it. Plan it — be honest, respond positively, and be clear about staying or leaving. If you decide to go back at some point post delivery, get a replacement who takes over in your absence. Start somewhere even if it may not seem like the perfect plan.
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5. Let Your Coworkers Know Soon After
When it comes to telling your colleagues about your pregnancy you can be a little more at ease. Don’t tell everyone at once—let your close friends know first. A good way to announce it to the team is to get decorated cookies or chocolates to work—baby shaped or decorated with storks—buy some donuts for everyone with a small fancy note that carries a message of your pregnancy. You can also choose to drop your team an email, post telling it to your boss.
Don’t be nervous or shy about it—be honest and open. Don’t think whether it will affect them. After all, from now on, it is more about you and your baby than your work—the after-effects can be calculated later. During this time, don’t let your job become stressful for you. And most importantly, take care of yourself.
