Starting a new WFH job at 18 weeks and need to disclose medical appointments right away

[Anonymous]

I am beginning a new job at 18 weeks and I have my 20 week scan two weeks later. My Obgyn office doesn’t have evening appointments. I took the first 7:45 am appointment but work begins at 8 am and I will be in a training period for 6 weeks. I was told asked several times before being hiring if I had any vacations planned or needed to take time off because basically during training that’s not allowed. I will be working for a health insurance company and the job doesn’t pay well but it’s 100 percent remote.

Here are the options:

Present a generic doctors note my ob gives me

Disclose I am pregnant

Log in late during my 20 week appointment due to tech problems or something like that

Push back the 20 week scan to 21 weeks so I will work 3 weeks before taking a few hours off

The office is only 5 mins away and most appointments should be fast. I am considered high risk though due to prior pregnancies.

I was offered this job in early June so almost 3 months before it begins.

I do feel my manager will say no or ignore emails about a generic doctors appointment so I think disclosing pregnancy might be the best route. I’m nervous though because I will still be in the probation period. They could let me go and say it’s because of performance. If the manager asks how far along am I should I say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am beginning a new job at 18 weeks and I have my 20 week scan two weeks later. My Obgyn office doesn’t have evening appointments. I took the first 7:45 am appointment but work begins at 8 am and I will be in a training period for 6 weeks. I was told asked several times before being hiring if I had any vacations planned or needed to take time off because basically during training that’s not allowed. I will be working for a health insurance company and the job doesn’t pay well but it’s 100 percent remote.

Here are the options:

Present a generic doctors note my ob gives me

Disclose I am pregnant

Log in late during my 20 week appointment due to tech problems or something like that

Push back the 20 week scan to 21 weeks so I will work 3 weeks before taking a few hours off

The office is only 5 mins away and most appointments should be fast. I am considered high risk though due to prior pregnancies.

I was offered this job in early June so almost 3 months before it begins.

I do feel my manager will say no or ignore emails about a generic doctors appointment so I think disclosing pregnancy might be the best route. I’m nervous though because I will still be in the probation period. They could let me go and say it’s because of performance. If the manager asks how far along am I should I say?

that scan is at least 1 hour long just fyi so take that into account

[Anonymous]

The manager shouldn’t be allowed to judge the reason you need a medical appointment. Just say it’s something time sensitive that came up. It’s only 1 hour, not like asking for a day off. If they can’t allow this, do you really want to work there?

[Anonymous]

Disclose you are pregnant and submit doctor notes. If you are in DC, there are laws that protect you.

[Anonymous]

https://ohr.dc.gov/page/pregnantworkers#:~:text=The%20Protecting%20Pregnant%20Workers%20Fairness,or%20a%20related%20medical%20condition the law

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The manager shouldn’t be allowed to judge the reason you need a medical appointment. Just say it’s something time sensitive that came up. It’s only 1 hour, not like asking for a day off. If they can’t allow this, do you really want to work there?

I’m kind of desperate for a job. Looking for a job during pregnancy isn’t easy and I’ll show soon. 100 percent remote is ideal for me right now and that’s not easy to find. Most options are hybrid.

[Anonymous]

I have a dr appointment from 7:45-8:45 on X date that I can't reschedule I will be logged on by 9:30.

Period. Stop making things so complicated.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think a doctors appointment is a big deal. I would mention it a few days in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://ohr.dc.gov/page/pregnantworkers#:~:text=The%20Protecting%20Pregnant%20Workers%20Fairness,or%20a%20related%20medical%20condition the law

I’m not in DC and the company isn’t DC based. If I lived closer to the company they would want me to come into the office. It’s a pharmaceutical company in PA. The training is going to be a larger group of people so I think they want all of us to be there for the training. They asked or had me filled out written documents at least 5 times to indicate I had any vacations planned during training or needed time of during that period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a dr appointment from 7:45-8:45 on X date that I can't reschedule I will be logged on by 9:30.

Period. Stop making things so complicated.

This but I would leave out the 7:45-8:45 part.

I have a dr. appointment on X date that I can't reschedule. I anticipate being logged on by 9:30.

Congrats on the new job and the little one, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a dr appointment from 7:45-8:45 on X date that I can't reschedule I will be logged on by 9:30.

Period. Stop making things so complicated.

Op here. We were told told if we miss any training day it’s a big deal and we could be terminated. For some jobs it is a big deal during the training period. They don’t want to slow down the training class and catch you up. This training isn’t just for me.

[Anonymous]

You should have disclosed it the five times they asked.

[Anonymous]

Do not disclose you’re pregnant this early under any circumstances. They will not invest in you as a new employee.

[Anonymous]

Did you know you were pregnant when you were offered the job? If yes, you should have known you would need a 20 week scan. I would try and find a clinic that has evening or early morning hours. Ask your doctor for suggestions - not the front desk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not disclose you’re pregnant this early under any circumstances. They will not invest in you as a new employee.

This.