Leaving Work
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Leaving Work
| Tue, 10-26-2004 - 3:50pm |
My husband and I are trying to get pregnant right now. I've always known that I want to be a SAHM when the time comes. Now that it's getting close, I am VERY nervous about leaving my job. I really love the place I work and the people I work for. I need help in deciding how to tell them I will be leaving. What do I say? How soon should I tell them? I would like to give them plenty of notice so that I can help train my replacement, but what if they just tell me to leave right then? I am really stressing about this and I am not even pregnanat yet (at least that I know of!)
I need advice from those who have been there, and help from anyone who knows about this.
I need advice from those who have been there, and help from anyone who knows about this.
Thanks!

I went on mat leave, and advised them a few weeks into mat leave that I would not return. There was someone else who already knew my job, so I didn't have to worry about training someone. Good luck!!!
1. Tell them that you will not come back from the get go and help find/train your replacement. I don't think they can legally fire you because you are pregnant and will not come back, but I don't know for sure. Of course, if they are persistant, they can stick you with a bum job until you deliver.
2. Tell them that you will come back after the birth and just tell them that you changed your mind when the maternity leave is over.
3. Tell them that you don't yet know what you will do.
I did #2 and I regret it. I wish I would have done #1 or #3. I really knew I wouldn't be back but I didn't want to get that bum job. I was a teacher and it was going into the new school year and I KNOW that my principal would have given me crappy classed had she known. But like I said, I should have been honest from the beginning. It was much harder for my friends and students who thought I was coming back.
But if you do, I am sure their are laws to protect you in a matter of them telling you to just leave then.
I would see what they are and go from there if you plan to tell.
If you do tell, I would give a few months notice.
After i went on maternity leave, i never did go back. I just came in to visit, and to show off my new bundle of joy. I ended up telling my boss this.
" I love working here, and i enjoy who i work with. But i love my son too much to want to put into daycare, when i know i don't have to. My husband and i can afford for me to stay at home with him. Family comes first, it's the biggest thing my husband and i agree on." and you know what she said to me in return? "I totally understand, Amanda, believe me, if i could have afforded to stay at home with my kids when i had them... you and i wouldn't be talking right now... i would have quit a long time ago." I was soooo relieved. Yeah many people were sad to know that i wasn't comeing back to work. But it's a part of life.
Personally what i think you want someone to tell you is... "it's ok to leave a job you love to raise a family" You have every right to be a stay at home mom... and one day when the kids are older, you'll be able to get back into the work force if you need to.
But seriously... i wouldn't tell them right away that you want to be a SAHM. Work on getting everyone excited about your pregnancy first...after the baby comes, then tell them that you want to leave.
I can understand that you want to train the person who is taking your place... and that could be a problem. SO for that what you could do is talk to the Human Resorces Director. They can not discuss with your boss if you are planning on leaving unless you say they can. Maybe you could talk to the HR director and your boss to tell them that you want to help train the person to take your place... who knows maybe you can help interview for the position! It's a shot...
hope it helps!
~Amanda~
wife to Johnny 3/15/03
mommy to Joey 2/17/04