Job Seekers' Support Group

A co worker told me yesterday that she is pregnant, but admitted that she has not told our bosses yet.  We are a very small office of only five people.  I don't know if I'm required to keep my mouth shut until she decides to tell them (but I'm afraid they'll be upset if they find out that I knew and didn't say anything), or if I'm supposed to tell them (but I'm afraid she'll find out and resent me for saying something).  She's only been here less than four months and is already on thin ice because of work performance.  The guys ask me a lot for my input on her and so I'm not sure if that means they'd want to know this or if I just wait and let her tell them.

Thoughts?

Hi Jennifer - long time no see! I still have this board in my "favorites" and stop by from time to time.

What a difficult situation you are in.

If they are planning to terminate her - they'd best do it before she tells them the news - if they terminate her after a pregnancy is announced - there could be problems. Oh - wait - I just realized as I typed this that you work for lawyers - so I don't need to talk to you about labour laws - lol.

Does she have a probation period? Would they be doing an overall review of her performance shortly?

That's a tough one and I don't envy you at all. I suppose all you can do is present them with the facts regarding her work performance and see if they give you an indication as to weather they'll be taking action (ie terminating her or having a talk with her and looking for specific things she must improve by a certain date).

Now you'll have to post - but I'm curious how this will end.

You are really caught in the middle.

Take care, Jo

Hi Joann - long time no "hear" or "see". :)

I hope your job is going well as is life in general.

My two cents is that you should not say anything to anyone about the pregnancy and leave it up to her.

It's her mess and hopefully she will tell them in enough time.

She will start to "show" and the cat will be out of the bag so she will have to fess up. (Unless she's one of those people that isn't obviously pregnant.)

You could always claim you didn't know or weren't sure or plead the Fifth if you were called on the issue. Just stick to the facts about her job performance if that is what is expected from you.

Even though you feel that you are caught in the middle and are in a difficult situation, I don't think it is your place to "blow the whistle" about her pregnancy.

Let us know how it goes.

If I were in your position, I would consider where my obligation lies and where my loyalty belongs.  I believe my answer would be "to my employers."  If your co-worker already has performance issues, your employers have a right to know about an issue that might make terminating an incompetent employee difficult or impossible. 

If your co-worker is incompetent, thereby probably making your job harder, why do you care what she thinks of you?  It would seem that she has no consideration for her employer or co-workers and has not earned your loyalty.

Just my two cents.