It can be more than a little bit uncomfortable telling your boss that you are pregnant. This is especially true if, for example, you are fairly new to your job. It is also difficult to tell your boss you are pregnant if your boss is the type who doesn’t seem to ever want to allow anyone a sick day or a vacation day. It can also be difficult to tell your boss you’re pregnant if you have become pregnant unexpectedly, and weren’t intending on taking any time off. Even if you’ve been trying to become pregnant, unless you have a very understanding boss, you may still be a little bit intimidated about having to tell your boss that you are pregnant.
One of the things that you need to do is, before you tell your boss that you’re pregnant, make sure that you know what your job performance status is. Pull out your most recent performance review, if you have one. Gather all of the information you have about any sick days or vacation days that you have used. Make sure you have a record of any disciplinary action that has ever been taken against you at your job.
You are doing these things for a couple of reasons. The fact of the matter is, an employer cannot fire you for becoming pregnant. They also can’t legally prevent you from taking maternity leave (although the laws do differ somewhat for certain smaller businesses – if you work for a small business, you might consider speaking with an attorney to find out what the laws are in your area). However, more than one woman has told her boss that she is pregnant only to be fired a week later for something unrelated. While this is not something that necessarily happens very often, it is a possibility that you need to be prepared for.
Finally, when it comes time to actually tell your boss, the best thing to do is tell her professionally. You will want to ask for a moment of your boss’s time in a private area. Tell her, in a matter-of-fact way, without excessive beaming or anything else, that you are pregnant, and roughly when your due date is. From there, be careful not to make any statements about leaving, quitting, or anything else. If you are lucky, your boss may be fine with it and even wish you well.
