In this recession, it's a tricky decision to risk your job and tell your boss that you're pregnant. You certainly don't want your boss thinking you are unable to do your job - but then again, pregnant mommies are capable of doing pretty much anything!
In our latest Q&A with True Heart Events' Amy Malin, a Perezcious reader asks her what to do when a co-worker betrays you and tells the whole office that you're knocked up.
Hi Amy! I told one of my co-workers that I am friends with that I am pregnant and asked her to keep it a secret. Since our company just laid a bunch of people off, I didn't want our boss to think I am now un-capable of doing a good job. My co-worker totally betrayed me and told everyone in the office that I'm pregnant. What do I do?
First of all congrats on your pregnancy. I can totally relate to what you are going through. When I was pregnant, a woman that I'm no longer friends with, took it upon herself to announce my pregnancy for me at a Black Tie Gala I was working on, in front of my clients and other guests. When I told her that was uncool since my husband and I hadn't even told our family and friends yet (she only knew because she had seen me get very sick at an event a few weeks prior), she actually had the nerve to be mad at ME. I know right? Then in my last trimester of my pregnancy, a former colleague actually told mutual clients that I should be fired from a project we were both working on because I was pregnant.
Meanwhile, I was doing an amazing job at what I was hired to do, was sending emails about the benefit while in labor and I was working from my hospital bed the day after my son was born. I was the epitome of committed to my clients' project, but someone actually had the balls to try and sabotage me and use my pregnancy against me. GROSS!
I tell this story because I can relate to your baby mama drama and frankly I think tons of women can too which is a very sad state of affairs. No one is entitled to announce your good news on your behalf. That is beyond rude and obnoxious. Not only does this steal your thunder and take away from the joy of you being able to get the reactions of love and support when you share your good news, but it also extremely insensitive. You and your partner are entitled to share your pregnancy news how and when and with whomever you want on your terms.
If you feel your coworker's announcement might have your boss doubting your abilities to do your job, assure your boss that you are as committed as ever to the team and that your work will not suffer in the slightest because you are pregnant. While you shouldn't have to prove yourself since being pregnant is not a crime, unfortunately in a tough economic climate where good jobs are hard to find, co-workers might play dirty and this was an obvious and desperate attempt to put you down while trying to build herself up. Too bad that act is so transparent.
If you continue to be a rockstar at work and bring some extra creative ideas into the mix, your boss will see that you're just as engaged and interested in your job as ever. Let your work speak for yourself. You're a superwoman who is about to be a Mom and don't you forget it!
Follow these guidelines and you should have nothing to worry about, moms-to-be!
For some more tips, follow Amy at @TrueheartEvents.
Tags: amy malin, boss, exclusive, job, preggers, pregnant, tips, working