https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:10:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351740 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:51:47 +0000 brownie 351740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You definitely need to wait because then if something happens you may have support for a pregnancy discrimination. My boss was terrible to me and I had to tell him really early because we did IVF. I got a terrible review and had to contest it and actually got it up.</p> <p>You also need to negotiate the raise because women often box themselves out of raises. You earned it and because you have a baby it doesn't mean you haven't or won't continue to do the work in the future. </p> <p>Great work and good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351646 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:10:22 +0000 kml636 351646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would wait until after. Sad to say but you have to look out for yourself, first! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351548 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:13:07 +0000 Revel 351548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, thanks for all the thoughtful responses! Keep them coming!</p> <p>You are all echoing what my mom said as well, to wait until after the review. I guess I could have the review, and then shortly after I'll be off between christmas and new years, and I could announce when I came back. Then there would be a decent interval between the review/raise negotiation and announcement/maternity leave negotiation.</p> <p>@Yoursilverling and @Ladyfingers, I'm in PA, and unfortunately I don't think there is any policy beyond that you can't discriminate against pregnant women. Also in PA STD is only available through the employer, and mine doesn't offer it.</p> <p>@Cheert16, I'm sorry your employer was so difficult... 4 weeks seems far too short! I have some concern about this because while others are able do my work, in terms of workload itself, there will be a lot of slack to pick up without me there.</p> <p>@Blackbird, good to know that I likely won't be showing too much at that point. I work with mostly men who are likely to not be too perceptive on that front. It is my first, so I guess I'll have to wait and see.</p> <p>@Clementine and @Prettylizy, thanks for the kind words regarding the raise! I do need to remember that this is a blessing and that it doesn't change the work that I have already done, and will continue to do before and after maternity leave. I honestly did not expect my decisions regarding work to be so challenging once pregnant, but I see that it will likely only get more complicated as a mom. I'm confident it will be worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351466 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:42:13 +0000 prettylizy 351466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wanted to comment on you idea of negotiating a raise. If you feel you deserve a slightly higher raise because of good performance, don't let being pregnant stop you from that. It's not a burden its a blessing, and being pregnant doesn't devalue the work you've already done to deserve that. Good luck :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351449 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:21:02 +0000 blackbird 351449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't tell them before your review! You could probably hide for 16 weeks. I thought I couldn't, told everyone around week 13/14, and now i'm l7 weeks and going...yeah, I could've hidden it. Only one of my coworkers--a woman--suspected I was pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351447 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:19:21 +0000 SleepyMonkey 351447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>agree with pp's, i would wait before saying anything - the raise should be based on your contributions to the firm and your skill level alone, which should be a separate issue from being pregnant. and even though people should keep the issue separate, they may not (and not even realize it) and find a reason to not give the raise to you. if you would have asked for a raise before you got pregnant, then i'd suggest not bringing your pregnancy up before the year-end process. </p> <p>once you have announced it, then i would talk to them about maternity leave. if they value you, they should create a maternity leave policy in order to retain you and generate some loyalty. hopefully they'll be flexible about it. good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351425 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 07:46:18 +0000 cheert16 351425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work for a small comapny as well- only 3 full time employes and like 7 part time. I am not covered by FMLA either. They said I could take "as much time as I thought i needed- but 12 weeks seems long" So basically I am going back to work 4 weeks after having my LO as we have a huge end of the year 2 day presentation/ project that we work the whole year towards- 2 months after LO arrives. They said they would lay me off for 4 weeks then I could go back normally. I have to say the whole situation is pretty stressful!!<br /> If i were you i would totally WAIT untill AFTER your review before you say anything!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-351348 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:25:27 +0000 ladyfingers 351348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree, 16 weeks along isn't an outrageous amount of time to where you could be accused of hiding it. I would probably wait. As for state by state medical leave, only a handful have it - 5 or 6 states I think, and DC. In those states, the medical leave requirement is lowered, but I don't think any of them grant FMLA-style leave for companies with fewer than 10 employees.</p> <p>That being said, we are a 13-person company and they had no problem giving me 12 weeks. 6 is paid through short-term disability and they surprised me by chipping in the other 6 weeks. So you never know! I went in saying I knew there was no policy (the only other person ever pregnant there was my boss, who owns the company) but I was hoping for 12 weeks and I hoped that was appropriate, and that I understood it was unpaid but i would just be grateful for the time. She responded, "take the time you need!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-350925 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:25:51 +0000 yoursilverlining 350925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely not tell your employer before your review. If it comes up during your review that they are unhappy with your job performance; then I might tell them then as a way of explanation. But, I would personally kept those two events separately and negotiate for the higher salary based on the additional responsibilities you said you've taken on.</p> <p>Even though you are not covered by FMLA, check your state laws as most (every?) state has its own medical leave program; specifically for those who are not covered by FMLA. It wouldn't be paid leave, but it might grant you an official leave that would protect your job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/announcing-at-workmaternity-leave-question#post-350860 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:27:49 +0000 Revel 350860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi bees! Looking to pick your brains on my work situation. I work for a small company (9 employees) not covered by FMLA. We are relatively family friendly, but have no set maternity leave policy. I am 8 weeks along right now and am trying to decide when to announce and negotiate my leave.</p> <p>A complicating factor is that we have our year end reviews coming up in mid December, where raises and bonuses are given. I am debating if I should announce before the review, during the review, or after. Before I became pregnant, I was considering trying to negotiate a slightly higher raise than normal this year based upon some additional responsiblity I have taken on, but now I'm not so sure. I also was considering that I should announce before the review to offset any perceived deficiency in my work through the first trimester (i.e. not working late etc) though I have no indication that my employer is unhappy with my performance.</p> <p>So basically I could announce pretty much at any time after Thanksgiving - that is when I will have passed 12 weeks and probably had an NT scan. </p> <p>I have 4 weeks paid vacation, and I want to take 12 weeks off. I expect some of that to be unpaid, but if my employer would pay at least 2, ideally 4 more weeks, that would be a huge help.</p> <p>Does anyone have any insight or similar experience negotiating leave at a similar employer? </p>