Pregnancy: When do you tell your boss

May 26, 2009

GRACE Makoko is the head of Global Markets at Standard Chartered Bank. Her pregnancy is high risk. Her doctor recommends several hours of bed rest. <br>Makoko says she informs her bosses a year in advance about her intention to get pregnant.

By Hope Abimanya
and Susan Muyiyi


GRACE Makoko is the head of Global Markets at Standard Chartered Bank. Her pregnancy is high risk. Her doctor recommends several hours of bed rest.
Makoko says she informs her bosses a year in advance about her intention to get pregnant.

“It helps us plan better. I give ample notice and train other members in the department before I take maternity leave,” Makoko explains.

While pregnancy is ideally a personal affair, often times, it raises eyebrows from workmates. Some bosses do not expect a young, unmarried female employee to conceive. They look at her with concealed disappointment. Even if the employee is married, the thought of a 60-day maternity leave is not appealing to the employer whose aim is to meet targets and make profits. So, if that pregnancy is still your little secret, when and how do you tell your supervisor that you are expecting?

Eseza Byakika, the chief human resource manager at the National Housing and Construction Company, says you should tell your supervisor about your pregnancy immediately.
“Earlier notice allows the company time to plan for a replacement.”

She says because pregnancy, in most cases, comes with challenges like morning sickness that can affect your work output, your supervisor needs to know to avoid misunderstandings. An informed supervisor knows when you need time to rest or go for antenatal care.

Mitch Egwang, the director of Eclipse Group, says as a supervisor, he expects to be the first to know about his employee’s pregnancy at the workplace. “I am the one to grant her maternity leave or excuse her when she comes late for work, so why shouldn’t she tell me?”

Solomon Muhairwe, a human resource manager of a local media company, says being pregnant is normal and so expects his workers to tell him. “Why should one try to hide it?”

But telling your boss that you are pregnant is not easy for a lot of women. Below are other options one can consider, according to Muhairwe:
If you can, keep doing your work well and do not mind the boss.

Do not feel pressurised to tell your boss until you feel the need to. This will probably depend on your medical conditions, potential work place hazards, and your plans.

However, your pregnancy will soon be obvious or your condition might require medical attention. Before reaching that point, discuss any work place hazards with your doctor and make a decision about the risks. You should create a rapport with your boss and tell him the truth about your problems.

Prepare a list of answers to potential questions your boss may have — including whether or not you plan to return, how much maternity leave you will request for, a transition plan (either temporary or permanent), and anything else specific to your personal or professional situation. You should also prepare a written transition plan and time line so your boss has a written record of your plan.

If you think your boss might react negatively to your announcement, you might want to wait until you have passed the highest risk period for a miscarriage before announcing that you are pregnant. That way, you will not end up causing showaves at the office only to discover that you will not need maternity leave after all.

Muhairwe also advises that the best way to tell your boss you are pregnant is in a straightforward way. You want to be sure to tell your boss before you tell your other co-workers. Some women feel they are inconveniencing their bosses or company by having a baby. Remind yourself that you have nothing to apologise for.

Most women prefer to wait until the second trimester (the fourth month) to tell the boss about their due date.
If you plan to resign and be a stay-at-home mum after giving birth, make sure you mention that to your boss.

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