How do you tell your boss you're pregnant?

Question

Any suggestions on how to break the news to my boss that i am pregnant? I love my job and have every intention of getting right back to work after the baby's born. I just can't seem to formulate the right words in my head, so as not to throw him into a panic. I'm afraid he will freak out because I'm an office manager for a very fast paced high-end metal fabrication shop and no one else here knows how to do my work.

Answer 1

First of all - CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I am an employer and although I can't speak for your boss, I would be so happy for you and thankful we had a lot of time to prepare. He should be told as soon as possible, simply because if anything happened, everyone should know about your condition if you required medical attention if anything happened at work. (there was a point in my last pregnancy that maybe I wasn't getting enough iron - even taking vitamins? I was a little lightheaded when I stood up - It may have been possible I could faint, I don't know?) If anything came up while at work - he should know.
Just be upfront, tell him you need to discuss something with him - go to his office or somewhere private. Just say, "I need to inform you that I just found out I am pregnant. In no way do I plan to let this affect my job performance and I plan to return to work after my maternity leave. I wanted to give you as much notification as possible so we can prepare for my temporary absence. I plan to be off for 6-8 weeks beginning ---, so of course, I'll help you train anyone to fill in." He won't freak out. He will appriciate your dedication and concern for the company. There is nothing else for him to do but accept it. He can feel whatever he wants, think whatever he wants, bottomline - there is nothing more important in your life right now than this new child! I think it's awesome!
When I set up my company, I planned ahead that I would be hiring parents, parents to be, etc... I have four children myself. There is nothing more important than family and that goes for my employees too. If one of their children is ill or has to go to the ER - I will deal with the employee being absent, they need to take care of their children first. This is just a job. It's not their whole life and it would be wrong for me to expect that their job comes before anything else. How could I earn their dedication and respect? I respect them and I can only hope they feel the same about me. We're just people.
Best Wishes to you - I hope it goes well - I'm sure it will! Go in there EXPECTING him to be supportive and smile a lot!
Lynnae

Answer 2

Wear a shirt that says "Hey boss, I'm knocked up!"
No I'm kidding.

I scared my supervisor a little bit, just because I know I can joke around with her. There had been a couple of girls that had come to her about possibly resigning due to other jobs. So I said in a very calm and quiet voice "hey I have to talk to you about something...(pause).....I have some news". And she said "God dammit you better not quit on me too!!!" And I said "Nooooo, it's GOOD news" and she jumped off her seat and said "YOU'RE PREGNANT!!!" She is so happy for me, she's holding allot of stuff her grandaughter left behind for me already..........and I don't even know the sex of the baby.

But all bosses are different, you should know yours by now. You don't have to be as informal as I was but don't feel you're writing a letter of resignation either. Just say something like "Sir/Ma'am, could I have a few mintues of your time. Due to the importance of my position I feel I need to tell you this right away. I have recieved some great news, I just found out I'm pregnant." Then let him/her know that you are confident everything will be just fine while you're gone. Have somebody trained to take care of the major duties of your position. You know it will be a circus when you come back but you can only do so much. I'm gonna have to do some training as well and only fear the condition my office will be in when I get back.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Answer 3

I was in the same position, but trust me....tell him now or very soon!!! He will appreciate it, even if he is shocked at the moment.

You must let him know how you feel, let him know if you didn't plan the pregnancy, or weren't expecting it to happen so fast. Let him know that you love your job and intend to get back as soon as your maternity leave is over. Make him aware that you understand no one else knows how to do your job, and you are willing to start training someone right away so that he is relieved of any pressure while you are gone.

I was a supervisor over several offices, and when one of my employees became pregnant I was always shocked, and maybe a little frazzled at the moment of being told because I needed a job done and knew they wouldn't be there to do it. But reality sinks in and you start to prepare for how you will survive when this person is on maternity leave.

The only time I was very upset is when the employee waited until the last minute to tell me and I was not at all prepared for her to leave.

Answer 4

You need to ask your boss for time to talk. You need to be honest with him. Tell him your intentions as far as will you work until your due, take a specific time off, that sort of thing. Also, a good suggestion would be to talk to him about helping to hire a temp for you while you are gone on maternity leave. The medical act gives you the right to have so much time off of work and still have a job to come back to. You won't get paid though unless you have sick time or vacation time and you use that. Good luck.

Answer 5

Why not just be honest.. ? Tell him that you are pregnant and that you will be leaving ___ and would like to return____ . Also, if possible start keeping an assistant that you can show "almost" everything you do and reassure him that you have every intention of coming back in _______ blah, blah months.. Maybe you can do some of the things at home or come in on a part-time basis once you have the baby and get things running smoothly... ? good luck

Answer 6

I'd just tell him I'd need a few weeks leave in about however many months, but that you will be more than happy to help out all you can from home during this time. And suggest that you start training someone else so that the office won't be in such a turmoil during your absence. .......... Then again if someone else knows how to do your job they may not want you back when the time comes, so don't show them EVERYTHING just enough to get them by!

Answer 7

I just told my boss this week. I also let him know what my objectives (for my staff, myself, my department) are before I go on mat leave, what I think needs to be in place to ensure things run well, and that my work will remain a priority until the end.
Come prepared and professional. Show him you can still get the job done & that you are committed to the company.
Goodluck & congratulations!

Answer 8

I had had a miscarriage about 4 months before I became pregnant again, so I was afraid to tell anyone.

I had told my entire workplace the first time around at about 6 weeks...so it was hard when I lost the baby...everyone offered condolences, but it was hard.

So when I became pregnant again, and got past the point of miscarriage risk, I started wearing maternity clothes (had to) and when someone asked me, I told them. I went to my boss after that and told him.

He was happy for me. Your boss can freak out all they want, but its the law, they cant fire you for being pregnant.

Answer 9

What is this? The 50s? Know you're maternity rights, break the new ASAP so as to insure time to make a new plan. If you are valuable as you say you are they will kiss your butt to accommodate you! Plus, it's the law. Who cares what their mood is! You are having a baby! Congrats! They should be throwing a party for you!

Keep this mentality and it will work out.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

well, tell him asap, so that you can get to training someone to do your job while you're on maternity leave. i'm sure that will be much appreciated! focus on that as your worry, and mention your intentions of getting right back to work after the baby is born.

also, if you do it right after a positive review or successful completion of a project, they can see youcan still do your job pregnant. Also, you will have that as evidence in case they flip out & try to get rid of you (illegally) because of your pregnancy.

i was worried about telling my bos (i just got a new supervisor a week before) but he was very excited for me. he has 3 kids of his own, so i think that's why.

good luck! & congrats!!