I told my boss I’m pregnant and she told me not to bother coming back to work

“I think she is being frosty and spiteful,” the Australian mum-to-be admits in the post.

Alexandra Feiam

2 min read

June 19, 2023 - 3:55PM

Australia at a 'pivotal point' to implement reforms around workplace harassment

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Julia* was ecstatic when she found out she was having a baby.

At 26 weeks in her pregnancy, she was starting to show.

As she made her way to the office, she shared the happy news with her colleagues. Just like her, they were over the moon.

But then she told her boss, who didn’t seem as thrilled.

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Julia's boss was less than thrilled when she found out she was expecting. Source iStock

Boss told pregnant employee her contract wouldn’t be extended

Taking to Facebook, the Australian mum-to-be explained that her boss was less than pleased by the pregnancy announcement.

“She said I should have told her sooner,” she wrote. “... that I shouldn't have kept it from her.”

The boss revealed that had she known about the pregnancy, she would not have extended Julia’s contract with the company.

“I mentioned to her that I can work up until my contract end date,” she continued. Her boss shut her down, insisting she would “find someone else to fill [Julia’s] position.”

Confused by this statement, Julia then requested to return to the company after taking maternity leave.

However, she received another “frosty” and “spiteful” response.

“She said not to bother because I won't be welcome."

Julia confessed that because the confrontation was in person, she had "no written proof” of the incident, making it harder to report.

She “started a paper trail through company emails” but had little luck finding anything “as her response was vague.”

“Sounds like you dodged a bullet!”

The post quickly amassed support for the woman, with many reaching out with helpful next steps.

She was advised to email the boss and reiterate the conversation they’d had earlier.

“If at least to get everything in writing,” someone said. “She cannot let you go because of pregnancy or impending Mat leave.”

“I would be lodging a complaint,” shared another.

Others saw it as a blessing in disguise. “Do yourself a favour and leave the toxic work situation,” wrote a shocked person.

“Sounds like you have dodged a bullet,” said another. “You don't want to return to an environment like this after bubs [is] born.”

“Life is too short, move on and find a place that values you - that’s what I would do,” said another.

But some wondered why she took so long to inform her boss of her pregnancy. “I wouldn’t have left it so long to tell your boss,” one mum commented.

“I always thought that as soon as you found out you were pregnant, you were meant to tell your boss anyway?” another added.

They were quickly shut down by others, who asserted that you are “not obligated to tell your employer” about your pregnancy.

“You only have to tell your employer 10 weeks prior to your expected leave start date,” wrote a supporter. “You are not obligated to tell any sooner, regardless of your position at work.”

*Names have been changed