Telling Your Employer You're Pregnant: Complete Guide
Telling your employer you're pregnant can feel like a big step, especially if you're worried about how it will be received. Knowing your legal position and having a simple plan for the conversation can take a lot of the anxiety out of it.
When to tell your employer
There's a legal deadline, but many people choose to tell their employer well before it.
- By law, you must inform your employer by the 15th week before your expected due date, which works out at around week 25 of pregnancy
- Many people choose to tell earlier, particularly if their job involves physical demands, exposure to hazards, or long hours, since your employer is only required to carry out a health and safety risk assessment once they know
- Severe morning sickness, frequent appointments, or a job that would benefit from adjustments are also common reasons to tell sooner rather than later
- If you're in your first trimester and not ready to share widely, you can usually tell your direct manager or HR in confidence before telling colleagues more broadly
How to have the conversation
- Ask for a private, one-to-one meeting with your manager or HR rather than mentioning it in passing
- Keep the initial message simple and factual, for example explaining that you're pregnant, sharing your approximate due date, and saying you'd like to discuss maternity leave and any necessary risk assessment
- Bring or be ready to provide your MAT B1 certificate, which your midwife issues from around 20 weeks and which your employer needs for maternity pay and leave purposes
- Use the meeting to raise any immediate concerns, such as symptoms affecting your work or upcoming appointments you'll need time off for
- Follow up any verbal conversation with a short email confirming what was discussed, so there's a clear record
Your rights at work
- Your employer must carry out a risk assessment covering your role once they know you're pregnant, and make reasonable adjustments if hazards are identified
- You're entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments, including antenatal classes recommended by your doctor or midwife
- It is unlawful for your employer to treat you unfairly, demote you, or dismiss you because of your pregnancy — this is pregnancy and maternity discrimination
- You have specific legal protections during maternity leave and for a period afterwards, including rights around redundancy situations
- If you experience discrimination, you can raise a formal grievance with your employer, and organisations such as ACAS or Maternity Action can offer free guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I legally have to tell my employer I'm pregnant?
You must tell your employer by the 15th week before your due date, which is around week 25 of pregnancy, in order to qualify for maternity leave and statutory maternity pay. Many people tell earlier than this, especially if they need a risk assessment done or are struggling with symptoms like morning sickness that affect their work.
Can my employer discriminate against me for being pregnant?
No — pregnancy and maternity discrimination is unlawful in the UK. Your employer cannot dismiss you, deny you a promotion, treat you unfavourably, or select you for redundancy because you're pregnant or on maternity leave. If this happens, you can raise a grievance internally, and organisations like ACAS or Maternity Action offer free advice on next steps.
Do I have to tell my employer before I tell my colleagues?
There's no legal requirement about the order you tell people, but it's usually sensible to tell your manager or HR first and privately, particularly if you want time to discuss leave, adjustments, or how and when the wider team finds out. This also gives your employer time to arrange the required risk assessment before you tell colleagues more broadly.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
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