when and how to tell work?

I am 12 weeks and i know i have to tell my office, but i am a little nervous, 1st off about the whole not being married part, but also what if they say they do not allow maternity leave, this is a fear of mine. How to I go about this whole thing?

Re: when and how to tell work?

Do you have a manual at work that tells you whether you have leave or not? Maybe talk to your HR person.

Re: when and how to tell work?

we have a wanna be employee manual we are a small company and it says nothing about maternity leave. I have been here 12 years and I am the 1st person to ever get pregnant.

Re: when and how to tell work?

If it's a small company they may not even have maternity leave. FMLA covers company's with over 50 employees. Do they offer short term/long term disability? short term disability is the same as maternity leave. WIth my company when you go on maternity leave you are under short term dis and FMLA kicks in. In CT I get 16 weeks under FMLA.

Re: when and how to tell work?

First of all, you don't have to tell them at 12 weeks. I told at 15 weeks only b/c I got a promotion and wanted to be upfront about what I could accomplish before I gave birth, but I planned on telling them at 20 weeks. I felt like 20 weeks notice was more than adequate. I didn't want people asking me every day for months on end how I felt.

Working in a small office may affect your FMLA. I believe that if you have less than 50 employees, you don't qualify for FMLA. I didn't qualify since I gave birth 1 month short of being there 12 months. But most companies I've heard of have at least some sort of maternity leave, even if it's only 4 weeks paid.

Good luck!

Re: when and how to tell work?

If you have been there 12 years, i would hope that they would do every and anything they can to help you.

Re: when and how to tell work?

Re: when and how to tell work?

I know it is all just my nerves. I would really love to not come back if they do offer me some kind of leave but i am not sure we can afford it on one salary.

Re: when and how to tell work?

I am also very worried about that. I hope they give SOME maternity leave. I assume they have to under a company policy. I know that a few years ago there was a woman who got pregnant and she came back- so I am assuming that they gave her some time off.

I am planning on waiting as long as possible to tell my office- I am at 14 1/2 weeks.

Re: when and how to tell work?

I told them at 12 weeks and have been working here for 3 years. Our company only consists of 7 people and that includes myself. I sat two of the partners down in one office and just told them I was pregnant. They were shocked but happy. They were even more shocked when I told them I was due April 19th and I work for a CPA firm so it is very crazy from Jan. to April 15th around here and they have been very supportive. I am basically the office manager and I wanted to give them notice because I knew I needed to train someone for when I will be out and I also wanted the person who I find to learn when it isn't a hectic time. I actually placed an ad today for some help. They know I plan on coming back part time in the begining.
You have been their for a long time and I am sure they will work with you. If you work in a stressful environment I would recommend telling them sooner than later that way they may be able to alviate some of that stress.

Re: when and how to tell work?

my situation isn't the norm - I have a business with my father, so when I told my parents, in effect I told work too.