PREGNANCY
How to Tell Your Boss You're Pregnant
Telling your parents and your BFF you’re pregnant is not at the same as sharing the news with your boss!
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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PREGNANCY
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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Telling your workplace you’re pregnant can be scary! In fact, 21% of expecting parents are worried about telling their boss they’re having a baby, according to a 2018 study. Part of the worry is simply not knowing when or how to tell your boss you’re pregnant. While there are no hard-and-fast rules that dictate the ideal time or words to share your news, we’ve got some helpful tips to follow that’ll make the process way less stressful. Here, the guidance you need for telling your boss you’re pregnant.
Technically, you don’t have to share your “I’m expecting” news with your boss by a specific time. Of course, that doesn’t mean cutting it that close is the best move! You should give yourself—and your team—time to prepare for your leave. Plus, once you spill the beans, you can be up front with your colleagues about needing to leave for prenatal visits. That’s why folks often tell their boss they’re pregnant around the end of the first trimester, when they may be starting to show—and the risk of miscarriage goes down. But, again, that’s not a rigid rule.
To determine if you should share your pregnancy news early, ask yourself the following questions:
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you may consider telling your boss you’re expecting sooner rather than later.
No! You can share your pregnancy news whenever you feel comfortable. For many expecting parents, it’s better for them to tell their boss they're pregnant in their second trimester. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you might want to wait until the 20-week mark or later, too:
If you’re on-edge about revealing your news, it’s perfectly okay to take your time sharing. In the end, figuring out when to announce your pregnancy to your boss is a highly individual decision.
You can chat with HR after you talk to your boss or beforehand, depending on your situation. HR will be able to fully fill you in on the ins and outs of your company's parental leave policies.
Telling your parents and your BFF you’re pregnant is not at all like sharing the news with your boss—no cute ideas necessary! Instead, you want to be prepared and professional. To help, follow this “how to tell your boss you’re pregnant” advice:
Finding the right words to tell your boss you’re pregnant can be tricky. To help, familiarise yourself with the following scripts. Remember, there’s no need to memorise these “how to tell your boss you’re pregnant” scripts word for word! Read, ponder, and tweak to fit your specific workplace vibe.
I’m expecting and due in XX month. I’m set to talk to HR to discuss my options on XX date, so once I know more we can start planning!
I am happy to share that I’m expecting! The baby is due in XX month. I know we’ve got plenty of time, but I’d love to start figuring out my maternity leave and return-to-work plan soon! I don’t have many details yet, but I look forward to starting an open dialogue on the process.
I’m pregnant and due XX month. In the next XX weeks, I’d love to put our heads together so we can prepare for my absence and return to work.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m pregnant! The baby isn’t due till XX month, so we have a lot of time to plan. I’m just starting to pull together notes on my tasks and responsibilities, so we can devise a plan for my leave—and a smooth return.
I have some personal news. I’m pregnant and due XX month. Soon, I’ll have more info to share about my parental leave and work coverage plans. But for right now, I just wanted to share my that I’m expecting.
I wanted to let you know that I’m expecting. After the baby arrives in XX month, I plan on taking some leave and then returning to work afterward. I’m working on a plan now and will circle back in a few weeks with more details to go over.
I have some exciting news to share! I am expecting a baby on XX date. I've reviewed our parental leave policy and am working on a plan. We have time to delve into the specifics and logistics, but I wanted to let you know that I’m already on it!
I’m excited to share with you that I’m pregnant and due in XX month. I’ve already given some thought to coverage while I’m away. In XX weeks, can we get together and discuss?
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
