How To Tell Your Boss That You are Pregnant

Congratulations! You're expecting! You are probably thrilled with the good news, but of course, there's one thing you're concerned about: how do you tell your boss about this? The key is to be prepared. Have all this information with you, and talking to your boss won't be as hard as you thought.

• Do your research. Before even going to your boss to tell him the good news, it is best to be armed and ready with answers to some concerns that may be raised. Know the company policies regarding maternity leave and taking leaves for appointments with your doctor. Figure out health plan coverage and your eligibility for paid and unpaid leaves as well. Do you plan to take an early maternity leave, or will you wait until your due date before going on leave? Do you think you will want to take additional vacation days on top of your maternity leave? You may also be considering taking a few months off once you've had the baby. Knowing these things will help your boss be ready to make a few adjustments.

• Have a plan. However happy he may be, your boss will always be concerned about the work that you will be leaving behind. Think about your current responsibilities at work and plan how to assure your boss that work can and will be done. If you are in the middle of a project, look at timelines and consider how your pregnancy will affect important deadlines. If you have routine work that needs to be done, make a checklist of each task with as much detail as possible, to make it easier for someone to take over during your absence. Prepare a list of possible candidates who you think might be able to do the tasks you are doing. This will show your boss that you are also thinking about your work and planning ahead.

• Talk to your doctor. Women's bodies react differently to pregnancy. The doctor would know best how your body is taking your condition and may have input on how you should make adjustments to what you have been used to. He may recommend you lessen your workload or work shorter hours. In extreme cases, he may even tell you to stop working entirely and be on bed rest. Being ready with this information will help you make adjustments easier, rather than dealing with pregnancy problems only when they start to occur.

• Arrange a comfortable time to talk with your boss. When you are prepared with all the information you need, set up a meeting with your boss. Try to make sure that your boss is one of the first people to know about the pregnancy. This way, you will avoid his finding out about your pregnancy from office scuttlebutt. Manage expectations during your talk. Let the boss know when you will be available for work. Inform management and HR about your due date and be transparent with any plans that you may have. Answer all of management's questions truthfully, and do not hesitate to ask some of your own. You must be able to end the talk having a clear plan of what to do.

Having all pertinent information on hand when you talk will help it be a productive and reassuring time for both you and your boss. Being prepared will show that you are committed to your job and will make your boss even more supportive of your pregnancy.