Sometimes, announcing the pregnancy to the company is a difficult drink for the future mother, especially if they are new mothers. Unfortunately, there are many prejudices about maternity in the workplace and doubts are usually common.
You don't have to worry or feel guilty at all. Waiting for a baby is a wonderful thing and it is time for companies to begin to understand and support it. We tell you what you should know about the subject and we help you decide when to announce pregnancy at work.
Should I notify the company of my pregnancy?
There is no legal obligation of communicating pregnancy to the company. Strictly, the labor legislation does not include any mention about the obligation to notify about this personal and private fact of women.
However, the general recommendation is to communicate to the company your pregnancy so that it can be organized in order to replace your position in maternity leave. It is you who should assess whether it is better to communicate it or not, depending on the relationship you have with your bosses, the plans you have for when the baby is born and other personal circumstances.
In what cases should I notify you?
When assessing whether or not you should inform your company that you are pregnant, you should take into account some relevant points of your new situation and how it will affect your work in it. The most important thing happens to be your baby, therefore it is important that you notify the company as soon as possible if:
Your job poses a risk to the baby: If the performance of your usual functions could be dangerous for your baby, you must communicate it as soon as possible to take the most appropriate measures. For example, if the mother works in a chemical treatment plant or in an X-ray service. If the job that is performed is not compatible with pregnancy, the company must make an improvement in the prevention of occupational hazards, if a change of job is necessary that does not have risks for the fetus and the mother.
Absences for medical checkups: Pregnancy monitoring requires periodic prenatal check-ups and childbirth preparation for which you must ask for permission at work. There must be an express communication to the company about these continued absences in the workplace.
When should I announce pregnancy at work?
The best time to do so is a decision that depends on a variety of personal and work circumstances, therefore, as there is no legal obligation, there is also no specific time to do it.
There are women who prefer wait for the first quarter to pass to notify due to the increased risk of loss that usually occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy. But of course, if your position is a risk for your baby you should do it before, since precisely the first weeks of pregnancy are usually the most vulnerable to radiation and other dangers to the fetus.
You should not wait too long to notify it, since on the one hand the tripita will begin to be noticed and it is always better than those you who notify it to your bosses to find out about third parties. On the other hand, keep in mind that the company has to have a prudent time to find a replacement for your position, redistribute your work or what you decide to do for your maternity leave.
If there is no need to do it before, around the fourth or fifth month would be the best time to announce pregnancy at work.
How to notify the pregnancy to the company
In the absence of an obligation, there is no specific means to do so, but it is best to do so. in writing and with acknowledgment of receipt aimed at management, personnel department or human resources area.
You can also do it via email, but with acknowledgment of receipt. This document will be very valuable in order to take legal action if necessary.
You must indicate the approximate date of childbirth, clarify if it is a pregnancy considered at risk, specify if the doctor has indicated rest or if you recommend the change of job because it poses a risk to the baby. In these cases you must attach a medical report that proves it.
You can also take advantage of the letter to communicate the forecast we have to have maternity leave and the data we consider appropriate to facilitate the adaptation of the company to the new situation.
In which cases should I not notify you?
As you know, each job is a world and it is common sense that should prevail in these cases. You do not have to communicate it in special cases of situations of labor instability, temporary or work contracts, or in cases where there will be no work continuity.
For example, if you are working on a project for the company that will end before giving birth, you do not have to announce it in advance since the service for which you have been hired will have ended, regardless of whether you are pregnant or not.
Nor should you communicate it in a job interview. A pregnant woman is more expensive for the company than another who is not, so the company will surely reject your job application.
Can you say goodbye pregnant?
The company can fire the worker whether she is pregnant (whether or not the pregnancy has been announced) enjoying maternity leave or breastfeeding leave, but current legislation declares dismissal null and void If this were unjustified. In that case, the company would be obliged to return the worker to her job, once the court recognized the illegality of the dismissal.
However, the dismissal should not be confused with the non-renewal of the temporary contract, extreme that the company has full freedom not to exercise it if it considers it appropriate, regardless of whether the woman is pregnant or not.
