There's no one perfect time to broach the topic of your pregnancy with the powers that be at your job. Your decision will be a personal one based on many factors, such as how you feel, how much you're showing and what kind of work you do and how family-friendly your company is (or isn't).
Whatever (and whenever) you decide, it's a good idea to tell your boss first to know (in other words, beware of the trusted-colleague-turned-office-squeal).
Here are a number of considerations to take into account when it comes to telling your boss you’re pregnant.
How to tell your boss you’re pregnant when you work at an office
If you work in an office setting and have the opportunity to tell your boss face-to-face, here are a few tips to make the announcement go as smoothly as possible.
- Set aside the time. Scheduling an appointment to meet will ensure neither of you will be rushed or distracted.
- Accentuate the positive. Let your boss know you're happy about your pregnancy and committed to balancing work and family.
- Be flexible (but not spineless). Have a plan in place, but be open to talking through it. Come up with a realistic bottom line and stick to it.
- Set it in writing. Once you've worked out the details of your pregnancy protocol and maternity leave, confirm it in writing so there won't be any confusion later.
- Never underestimate the power of parents. If your company isn't as family-friendly as you'd like, consider joining forces with coworkers to petition for better parental perks. Making sure that similar allowances are made for employees who must take time off to care for sick spouses or parents may help unite you with coworkers who don’t have children.
How to tell your boss you’re pregnant when you work remotely
More people than ever are working remotely right now, and if you're one of them, you have a little bit more flexibility in when and how you tell your boss you're expecting. However, it's probably best to tell your boss you’re pregnant in the same way whether you’re breaking the news in person or remotely: Frame it in a positive way. It also helps to give your boss your due date to allow him or her to start planning for your maternity leave.
More About Working During Pregnancy
When to tell your boss you’re pregnant
There's no universally perfect time to tell your boss you're pregnant (it will be different for everyone!). A number of considerations can impact the timing of your pregnancy announcement at work. A few you'll want to consider:
How far along you are in your pregnancy. Many women wait until the end of the first trimester or the beginning of the second, when their risk of miscarriage declines considerably and they know their pregnancy is healthy and moving in the right direction. Others may hold out until the end of the fourth month, when their non-invasive prenatal test results are in.
How you're feeling and whether you're showing. If you have severe nausea and vomiting, can barely lift your head off the pillow or are sporting a belly with an unmistakable bump, you may not be able to keep your secret for long. In that case, telling your boss you’re pregnant sooner makes more sense than waiting. It also may be a good idea to break the news earlier if you're feeling like you need to take more breaks. Letting them know earlier may help explain why you need a midday nap or more rest throughout the day.
What kind of work you do. If your job has built-in workplace hazards, especially for pregnant employees (i.e. it’s particularly strenuous or exposes you to harmful chemicals), talk to your boss sooner rather than later so you can ask for a transfer or change of duties if possible.
How work is going. Announcing your pregnancy may unfortunately and unfairly raise concerns from coworkers and management (like whether you'll keep working throughout your pregnancy, or return to work after maternity leave). So, though it seems unfair, you may want to head off concerns about your commitment to your job by making your announcement after scoring a deal, finishing a report, coming up with a great idea or otherwise proving that you can be both pregnant and productive.
Whether reviews are coming up. If you're afraid your announcement might influence the results of an upcoming performance or salary review, try to wait until after it’s over before sharing the news. (Keep in mind that proving you've been passed up for a promotion or raise based solely on the fact that you're pregnant may be difficult.)
Whether you work in a gossip mill. If your coworkers are particularly gossipy, be especially careful about telling anyone else before you tell your boss and time the announcement before others can guess what’s going on. If news of your pregnancy reaches your boss before you get the chance to tell him or her yourself, you may have to work through some trust concerns. So make sure your boss is really the first to know.
How family-friendly your company is. Try to gauge your boss's attitude toward family by discreetly asking coworkers about their experiences. If you think your boss (or company) won't welcome the news, you may want to wait until the 20-week mark (if you can hide it until then) to announce your pregnancy, so you'll have proven your ability to do your job well while pregnant. If, however, you're confident that your employer will take the news well, share it as soon as you're comfortable in order to take full advantage of any special benefits (such as flex time) your company may offer.
How to tell your boss you’re pregnant via email
More and more people are working from home these days, so if you have a flexible WFH situation, email may be the way you have to break the news. But whether or not it’s the best course of action for you really depends on the type of rapport you have with your boss.
If you have a good relationship with your boss, you might want to set up a video call or in-person meeting instead.
But if you have a strained relationship or you’re not comfortable sharing the news face-to-face, it’s not inappropriate to do it over email. It will give your boss time to process the information and come to you for next steps on how you plan to proceed with your role. You might try something like:
I’m excited to share with you the good news that I’m pregnant. I’m due on [your due date] and I’m hoping to work until [your planned date] before taking maternity leave.
Over the next few months, I’ll work to create a detailed plan ensuring all of my projects and duties are completed or delegated to other team members. I’m planning to take our company’s leave period of [however many weeks] and I’m looking forward to returning to work after that.
In your email, you might also want to mention any adjustments you may need and whether you’d like to share the news with the rest of your workplace or keep it private for now.
How to prepare your pregnancy announcement
In an ideal world, announcing your pregnancy should be well-received, congratulatory news. Once you've decided you’re ready to share, you can take steps to help ensure it's well-received. Before you spill the beans, here are a few things that may lead to a more productive discussion with your boss.
Research your company's family leave.
Before you talk to your boss, learn everything you can about your employer's maternity leave policies. Some offer paid leave, some unpaid while others allow for sick days or vacation to be used towards family leave.
Read the employee handbook and consider setting up a confidential meeting with someone in human resources to learn more about it.
Know your rights.
The U.S. is, unfortunately, behind almost every industrialized country when it comes to family leave. That said, if you and your company meet certain requirements, you are guaranteed 12 weeks unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Keep in mind that some states (like Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York and California) have more robust (even paid) maternity leave laws. Familiarize yourself with these laws so you know what you're entitled to.
Figure out if you need to adjust your responsibilities.
If you work in an intensely stressful or physical job, or if you're exposed to potentially harmful chemicals or other workplace hazards, plan to make arrangements to adjust your work responsibilities until you're ready to deliver. Can you swap some responsibilities with one of your coworkers or take on a different role until you have your baby? This is definitely where those confidential discussions with colleagues who have already been pregnant on the job will come in handy.
Plan for coverage while you're out.
Think about how your job will get done while you're out on leave. It's a good idea to get a list of ideas and solutions together for how your job can be managed in your absence. You can create a list of all your tasks, what will need to be done before and during your leave, plus who on the team would be best for each task. This shows your boss you are prepared — and proactively thinking ahead — about coverage while you're out.
Think realistically about whether you'll come back.
Consider what you can afford when it comes to taking time off. Can you and your partner get by on one salary for a while if you decide to extend your leave? Or is your income crucial to keeping the household humming along?
Are there other logistical or emotional factors that might inform your decision, such as challenging child care options or the notion of leaving your baby in someone else's arms, no matter how capable? Look into your child care possibilities, then come up with a potential plan for if and when you'll come back to the office (just be prepared for that plan to change once your baby is actually here).
The challenges of being pregnant at work
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978 is the federal law that protects pregnant workers from being discriminated against by their employers. The PDA covers all aspects of employment, from hiring and firing to pay, promotions, training and benefits (like leave and health insurance).
It also stipulates that if you're pregnant and unable to do any part of your job (say, you work at a factory and can't lift heavy objects), your employer is required to provide reasonable accommodation for you just as they would for a temporarily disabled employee.
That said, there are a number of loopholes in the PDA. And, unfortunately, many expecting American women do find they're treated differently, either obviously (not receiving accommodations or being let go) or more subtly (getting passed up for a promotion).
So in addition to heading off possible discriminatory treatment, planning your announcement may help you make a better case to your employer for locking in the time off that you need (especially since maternity leave laws in the U.S. are lacking).
What to do if you experience pregnancy discrimination
Once you have told your boss the good news, be sure to keep them in the loop about your physical needs and limitations as your pregnancy progresses.
If your boss does treat you differently because you're expecting, report discrimination in writing to your HR department. Be sure to include details such as the date, time, who you spoke to and what transpired.
If your HR department ignores or does not fully address your complaint, file a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Doing so is more than worth the effort it takes (not only for yourself but for other moms too).
Just know that proving discrimination can be potentially challenging in court. Under the PDA, you must show that a coworker who's not pregnant but has comparable temporary limitations got better treatment than you did.
Doing so might be easier if you take detailed notes with dates of how your employer treats you versus other employees who've asked for temporary accommodations.
The good news: More people are aware of pregnancy discrimination in the U.S. now than ever before, and women have won discrimination lawsuits. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), currently in Congress, seeks to close loopholes in the PDA. About 30 states and cities have already passed similar laws to the PWFA.
If you don't like what you're reading about your rights as a pregnant worker who's about to become a new mom worker? Remember to use your vote to mom-mobilize around the issue.
Yes 
No 
Trending On What to Expect
