Three Reasons to Tell Your Boss You’re Pregnant Sooner Than Later

Are you pregnant and trying to decide when to tell your boss? Many people wait until the risk of miscarriage declines after the first trimester. That was what I planned to do when I found out I was pregnant for the first time. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t wait that long.

My husband and I were both airline pilots when we decided to start a family. I proactively decided to pursue a different career path to make family life more doable. I interviewed for a job as a ground school and simulator instructor before getting pregnant, which I ended up getting. Between the interview and starting my new job, I found out I was pregnant. I was over-the-moon excited, but I had so many questions and concerns about starting a new job at a new company as an expectant parent. I’m going to add in some commentary about my experience throughout this post.

The timing surrounding when to announce your pregnancy to your boss is a very personal decision. In this post, I’m going to give you three reasons to consider telling your boss you’re pregnant sooner than later. 

#1 It Will Give You a Reason to Learn About Your Rights and Benefits Early On

Consider researching your rights and benefits before letting your employer know about your pregnancy so you are fully prepared for the conversation. And, when you learn about your rights as soon as possible, you can then fully exercise them right from the start. It’s also helpful to be aware of any benefits your company offers that go above and beyond what is required by law (like paid or unpaid leave). If you have a spouse or partner, they should also look into any benefits they are entitled to receive.

Let‘s talk briefly about two important laws, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

But, first, I can’t talk about this topic without mentioning that the United States is the only industrialized nation (and one of only eight countries) without a national paid parental leave policy.

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)

According to this resource from A Better Balance:

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is a landmark civil rights law that will ensure pregnant and postpartum workers are not forced off the job, and get the accommodations they need, without facing discrimination or retaliation in the workplace. 

You can also check out the resource below to find out if you’re protected under this law. It also talks about some additional laws that protect pregnant workers.

🔗 What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act | U.S. EEOC

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave over a twelve-month period of time for specified family and medical reasons. Many workers use this law to access maternity and paternity leave. Find out more and if you’re covered under this law at the link below:

🔗 Family and Medical Leave Act | U.S. Department of Labor

States That Provide Paid Family Leave

Some individual states do provide paid family leave, though the specifics of each law will vary. You can find out more at the link below:

🔗 State Paid Family Leave Laws Across the U.S. | Bipartisan Policy Center

I knew I didn’t quality for the twelve weeks of unpaid leave under FMLA, because I was a new employee. I was so stressed knowing I might only get six weeks at the most. I also wasn’t sure how to tell my boss and when, since I just started the job. 

#2 If You Need Any Accommodations, Your Employer Needs to Know About Your Pregnancy

Pregnant workers sometimes need accommodations, even in the first trimester. But to enjoy the protections of any laws you are covered under (like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act mentioned above), your employer needs to be aware of your pregnancy.

For example, if you are exposed to any hazards that could be harmful to you or your developing baby, you can ask for any necessary and reasonable accommodations. You can find out more about potential hazards by clicking the link below.

🔗 Reproductive Hazards of the Workplace Tips for Job Safety | MotherToBaby

Nausea and vomiting are common in the first trimester, and some people really struggle with this. If this could affect your job or your attendance, it will be important for your employer to be aware of your pregnancy to make sure your job is protected and that you are accommodated, as needed.

You may also need to miss work for prenatal care visits or if any complications develop. 

I struggled with morning sickness during my pregnancy. While dealing with this, I was also going through intensive training on a new airplane type I had never flown for this new job, which would be challenging even if I wasn’t exhausted and sick every day. Because no one knew I was pregnant, I missed out on accommodations and support that I could have used during this time. It was really tough to be in a full-motion simulator for four hour chunks of time every day, while dealing with nausea and vomiting.

I also struggled to schedule my first prenatal visit, because my work schedule was constantly changing. Because I was hesitant to announce my pregnancy so early on, I wasn’t able to ask for flexibility on this. I didn’t have my first visit until about twelve weeks of pregnancy.

#3 If Your Pregnancy Does End in Loss, You Will Need Time Off

Like I mentioned before, fear of early loss is a big reason why people wait to tell their employer about their pregnancy. But if you do experience loss, you will likely need to ask for time off. This falls under medical leave, which may need to be approved, depending on your employer.

My pregnancy unfortunately did end in loss. I remember sitting in the waiting room before my first prenatal appointment when a supervisor called to tell me we had access to an airplane for a small window of time to go over the external preflight procedures. He wanted to know if I could head over in a few hours to meet up for this. I decided to call back after the appointment, but I ended up finding out the pregnancy wasn’t viable. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to head into work right then. I didn’t want to call and explain why I couldn’t meet up, because I was devastated and upset. No one knew I was pregnant, so I really struggled with what to do next.

Tips for Telling Your Employer About Your Pregnancy

Once you decide it’s time to break the news, here are some helpful tips:

• Make sure your pregnancy announcement is documented in writing; avoid only verbally letting your employer know.
• If you’re planning to return to work, make sure to communicate that commitment.
• Get any plans and accommodations in writing. These discussions may be ongoing. It’s ok if you don’t have everything figured out in the early weeks.
• Talk to both your boss and H.R.

If you feel your rights are being violated, escalate your concerns within your company first. Then seek outside legal help if you don’t get anywhere.

Ultimately, when you decide to tell your employer is up to you. While I listed reasons in this post for telling them sooner than later,  I do want to acknowledge there are also reasons why you may feel more comfortable waiting. Do what works best for you.