How to Tell Your Boss You're Pregnant

Though it's a time of celebration, announcing your pregnancy can feel overwhelming at times. Fortunately, you don't have to let nerves steal your joy! If you plan to work throughout your pregnancy, you'll need to tell your boss you're pregnant. You can relieve their concerns and keep your career on track if you prepare ahead of time for the announcement and choose the right time. Then, you can share your good news!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Planning Your Announcement

1
Review your company's policies on maternity leave. Your company likely has comprehensive policies regarding maternity leave. Knowing them will empower you as you talk to your boss. This information should be in your employee handbook. If you can't find it, your human resources (HR) department can provide it.^{[1]XResearch source}
- If you have questions about the policies, you can talk to the HR manager or the person who handles employee insurance and benefits information. However, keep in mind that they may start to suspect that you are pregnant before you're ready to make your announcement.
- If you live in the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid time off, which you can use for maternity leave.
2
Know your rights as a pregnant worker. In most cases, there are laws regarding how a business can treat pregnant women. This ensures that you and your baby are able to enjoy a healthy, low-stress pregnancy and birth. It's important to know these rights so that you can be your best advocate in the event that your boss tries to do the wrong thing.^{[2]XResearch source}
- For example, your employer most likely can't fire, demote, or re-assign you simply because you're pregnant.
- It's also a good idea to know the agencies that can help you assert your rights, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the United States.
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3
Plan for how you'll get your work done. You don't need to plan for every little detail, but it helps to have a basic work plan. Create an outline for how you'll get your work done during your pregnancy, as well as what will happen while you're out on maternity leave. Keep in mind that your health and wellbeing are what's important, so don't push yourself too hard. Here are some things to consider:^{[3]XResearch source}
- What will need to be done in your absence?
- Who can fill in for you?
- Will you attempt to work part-time from home?
- Will your boss need to hire a temporary replacement? How will they be trained?
- What information will you need to provide your boss?
4
Decide your preferences for taking maternity leave. Your boss will likely be worried about your maternity needs, so consider how long you want to take off, as well as if you will try to work from home at all. Choose what's best for you and your baby, not what you think is best for your boss. Although it's good to have a plan, you can change your mind later.^{[4]XResearch source} Here are some factors to consider:
- Will I receive pay for all or part of the time off?
- How much pay will I receive?
- How long can I take off without pay?
- Do I plan to breastfeed?
- What work will need to be done in my place?
- Can I telecommute from home part-time? Is this something that interests me?
5
Consider if you plan to go back to work after your baby is born. This is another concern that your boss will have. If you're unsure, it's a good idea to plan on going back. You can always change your mind if you later decide that it's best for you and your baby for you to stay home.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Don't ask your boss if you can come back. Instead, assume that you can, as you have the right to keep your job.^{[6]XResearch source}
6
Practice responding to intrusive or discriminatory questions. Hopefully, your boss will respond positively to your pregnancy, but it's a good idea to prepare a professional response to a negative reaction. Anticipate inappropriate questions, as well as how you'll respond. It will be easier to address your boss's inappropriate statements afterwards with their supervisor or HR if you have remained professional.^{[7]XResearch source}
- For example, a boss could rudely ask, “How will you maintain client relationships when you're hormonal?” While this is totally inappropriate, you might respond, “Clients are very important to me, and nothing will stop me from giving them great service.”
- If your boss asks you a question or makes a comment you feel is inappropriate, meet with your HR manager or their supervisor afterwards to discuss what happened and ensure that it's addressed. Your boss cannot treat you differently because you're pregnant, and your company can ensure that you are treated fairly and with respect.
7
Consider the experiences of other pregnant coworkers. You can get an idea about how your boss will react by reviewing the experiences of coworkers who've been pregnant. Were they treated well, or did they face workplace tension? Use their experiences to help you as you reveal your pregnancy.
- Many companies have a family-friendly culture that supports pregnant employees. Plus, it's likely there are lots of other parents in the office who will understand this exciting change in your life!
- If you have a trusted coworker who's gone through an office pregnancy, you may want to ask them for advice. While it's best to tell your boss first, you can cautiously ask about their experiences.^{[8]XResearch source}
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Choosing the Best Time

1
Announce your pregnancy as early as 12 weeks. After the first trimester, the pregnancy is less likely to end in miscarriage. Many women treat this mark as the official time to start announcing their pregnancy outside of close family and friends. Unless you need to tell your boss early to explain medical appointments, it's usually best to wait until this point.^{[9]XResearch source}
- This gives you time to get your pregnancy confirmed by your doctor and to ensure that it is progressing healthily.
- You may need to announce your pregnancy earlier if you have a very physical job or are experiencing a difficult pregnancy.^{[10]XResearch source}
2
Wait until you're showing if you'd prefer to delay your announcement. If you're nervous or a private person, it's okay to wait until you start showing. How long you can wait depends on how you carry the baby and how much you weighed before pregnancy.^{[11]XResearch source}
- If you decide to wait, it's best to tell your boss before your bump is noticeable.
3
Tell your boss before you tell your coworkers. Ideally, your boss should be the first person at work who knows you're pregnant. Not only is this respectful to your boss, it also protects you. Your boss can't legally fire or demote you for being pregnant. However, if they hear rumors about your pregnancy and fire you before you tell them, you won't be able to show they acted out of discrimination.^{[12]XResearch source}
- If you're afraid your boss will negatively react, it's okay to first talk to human resources. However, try to tell your boss soon after you speak with HR.
4
Schedule an appointment to talk with your boss. This will ensure that they're free and have adequate time to talk. If your boss is distracted, working on a task, or facing a big deadline, it's a bad time to tell them. Similarly, don't hijack a meeting or work task that has a different purpose. You want your boss to be calm and open to what you have to say.
- It's also best to speak with your boss in private so that you can both openly discuss the future of your career. Don't tell your boss in a group setting, such as during an office luncheon.^{[13]XResearch source}
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Sharing the News

1
Keep your announcement professional. Treat your meeting as a typical work meeting, not a personal meeting. Use professional language and stick to work-related topics, no matter the setting. This keeps the focus on you as an employee with specific career goals.^{[14]XResearch source}
- For example, don't use this as an opportunity to discuss your family goals or gush about baby names.
- Similarly, only discuss pregnancy-related topics as they relate to your job. For example, you might ask to adjust your work schedule while you cope with morning sickness, but it's not a good idea to bring up general complaints, such as soreness or hemorrhoids. Depending on your workplace, these kinds of topics may seem too personal.
2
Use a positive, upbeat tone to convey this is good news. It's normal for your boss to worry about business concerns that may arise due to your pregnancy. However, you can ease some of that worry by showing them that you are optimistic about the future. This is a great change for your life, so don't let work worries put a damper on that! Present the news as a positive announcement and speak affirmatively as you reveal your plans for your job tasks.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Even if you aren't feeling certain about the future, an optimistic attitude can help you get better results.
3
Give your boss a plan for how you'll get your work done. Make a list of your ongoing projects, clients, and/or work goals. Outline a plan for how to get your work done while you're pregnant, as well as how your work will get done while you're out on maternity leave. Consider who could take over for you, as well as which tasks can wait until your return.
- Provide your contact information, client contact information, and necessary passwords to your work accounts.^{[16]XResearch source}
- If you'll need help completing certain tasks while you're pregnant, offer your boss a plan for accomplishing your workload.
- Be prepared to discuss the possibility of flexible work assignments, such as working from home near the end of your pregnancy or working part-time during part of your pregnancy or maternity leave.
- Don't try to plan every detail, however. It's normal and acceptable to maintain some flexibility.
4
Ask for accommodations, if they're needed. Your health and wellness, as well as that of your growing baby, are what's most important right now. You may need to switch up your job responsibilities, especially if you have a very physical job. Discuss these needs with your boss and suggest solutions.
- For example, you may be able to trade off tasks with coworkers.^{[17]XResearch source}
- As another example, you will likely need to take off for doctor's appointments. Similarly, you might need to take naps during the last few months of your pregnancy. Both of these situations may demand a flexible schedule.
5
Discuss your plans for maternity leave, but stay flexible. Your boss needs to know your plans, but it's okay if they aren't set in stone, yet. Give them a brief overview of your plans, such as how long you might want to take off. However, maintain flexibility in case you want to make adjustments later.^{[18]XResearch source}
- Say, “I'm planning to stay home with my baby for the first 12 weeks after I give birth.”
6
Get any agreements in writing before you leave the meeting. Your boss may agree to scheduling or workload changes, which you need to have in writing. Similarly, you should get proof of any reduced responsibilities, accommodations, and plans for maternity leave. Provide a copy of this paperwork to your human resources department.^{[19]XResearch source}
- Even if your boss gives you a positive reaction, you still need to protect yourself. Document everything and work closely with your boss and human resources department to ensure that your pregnancy plan goes smoothly.^{[20]XResearch source}
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Tips

After your announcement, maintain your professional image by keeping your work conversations on work topics rather than your pregnancy.^{[21]XResearch source}
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Working while pregnant can be difficult, so reach out if you need help.
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Don't feel pressured to tell anyone before you're ready.
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Warnings

It's possible that your boss will have a negative response to the news, but remember that you have rights. In most areas, it's against the law for your employer to discriminate against you because of your pregnancy. If your boss fires or demotes you after you break the news, then reach out to a lawyer or fair employment commission for assistance in regaining your position.
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