by Sammy Stein

Created on: September 28, 2009

Not too long ago my boss and his deputy took me to one side and discussed issues of promotion. They wanted to move our small chemical company forward and wanted me to be one of the key managers of the future. They also tackled the area of babies, marriage ( I had recently got married) and what I proposed to do in the future about this. I was taken aback but said that, at the time I had no intention of becoming preganant and that as far as the company was concerned I would be more than happy to play a key role in the future.

Little did I know that I already had a baby on the way. A few weeks later, I thought about how to tell my boss and the other people in the office. I thought they might think I had been misleading them so I had checked out firstly my rights -how ong I could take off work for my baby without it affecting my career and whether they had to keep my options open. Then I called them to a meeting. I approached the subject obliquely first but my boss (who I was very fond of) had already twigged. He said his wife had said she thought I was pregnant when she last saw me (several weeks back when I probably did not even know for sure!).

I explained that at our last meeting I really did not know I was pregnant and also asked my boss why he had not broached the issue with me.

He said he was waiting for meto feel the right time to tell him, that his wife had told him to leave well alone and that I might not even be preganant so how could he approach the subject?

I waitied for them to be angry but actually, I was really surpirsed at how supportive they were. My boss said that often unplanned pregnancies proved the happiest and that they would keep my job open. They had thought about taking on a trainee under me in any case and they would just move things along and would I be willing to stay 6 months more to train them up? They also assurd me my job would be waiting for me when I wanted to return and that leave for maternity was an obligation they always knew they would have if I became pregnant and what did I want to do? They then went into raptures planning for my baby - would it be a girl or boy? Would it have dark or blonde hair and soon -men! I just sat and listened.

I was surprised and flattered that they were willing to be so supportive and we duly interviewed and took on a young trainee who we trained to take over the business I had and also learn how to deal with prospective new clients. He was great and while I was on maternity leave he did really well. I brought in my new baby boy when I had him, much to the delight of the entire office and I really felt proud and pleased to be part of such a great company.

So, telling your boss is not such a bad thing but do make sure that, just in case, you are sure of your rights fromyour employer and of their obligations legally to you for maternity leave (it depends how long you have been there as to how long they have to give you off). Also, tell them what your plans are after your baby so they canplan ahead too.

Eventually, I decided not to return full time to work because we moved a long way from London but I commuted for a while and helped train our new man further. Then, I took my leave - maternity and choice - and became a writer.

I still look back wth great fondness at my company however and am so pleased they were so supportive when I told them about my pregnancy. One quote which sticks in my mind is from a very taciturn manager who, when I told him simply looked at me and said ,

' Well, you're a woman- it was bound to happen!'

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