Thread regarding Wells Fargo & Co. layoffs

Pregnancy’s a secret and work in risk.

I am pregnant and afraid to tell my manager that I’m pregnant. What to do? Will I be laid off? I’m due in March. Now is around when to announce. Stressing here.

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| 3089 views | | 27 replies (last September 28, 2020) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+177quwND

27 replies (most recent on top)

@3uxf, sure there's a law but proving it is a whole different story. That's why so many told the OP to wait as long as possible.

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Post ID: @3pke+177quwND

Law passed 1/15 /1997 sorry user error ,I messed up the date earlier post .

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Post ID: @3uxf+177quwND

Law was passed 1/15/1007. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) forbids discrimination based on pregnancy when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, such as leave and health insurance, and any other term or condition of employment.

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Post ID: @3xnw+177quwND

I am as well, also in risk. It wasn't planned nor expected for me so I'm not planning on saying anything until I have to. Meaning if I get severe morning sickness or complications that requires a lot of appointments I'll tell my immediate boss. Otherwise, I'll wait as long as I can while still giving them enough notice to plan for me to be out a couple of months. I've had other colleagues in risk that have gone out for parental leave over the last few years and didn't notice any of them being treated differently when coming back so I'm hoping it's the same for us. Considering they are doing year-end evals in October and making calls on salary/bonus by Jan, I would at least wait until then if you are concerned the perception of being pregnant would impact your pay. congrats and wishing you a safe and healthy pregnancy!

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Post ID: @2tej+177quwND

Well, his whole party is as well... consider the background of his “Mayor” who was brought on to grease the governmental wheels.

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Post ID: @2kni+177quwND

Congratulations!!

Yea Chainsaw would say that is another person to cut! He is racist

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Post ID: @1eyn+177quwND

Check the employee handbook and know your options, as well as state and local laws.

California understands how babies are made and the role of family and has some good protections and extended family leave.

Every state is different I believe.

Stay safe and healthy, do things to help you worry less.

And more than anything, know that almost all of us were born under similar circumstances, and when we had our kids we were worried about everything money and otherwise.

And yet we're all here, and our children somehow get fed and schooled and turn out okay.

You'll be alright.

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Post ID: @1ihr+177quwND

First, congrats! Second, of course tell them, but you may consider doing so over email and keep a very well documented paper trail.

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Post ID: @1bds+177quwND

Congratulations! Your number 1 priority is you and your baby’s health. The stress from deciding when to say something is not good for the baby. You may want to tell now for your baby’s sake. Also call EAC. They actually know a lot of the ins and outs on the other programs.

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Post ID: @1tgf+177quwND

If you are in the safe stage to announce your pregnancy, then I would set up a meeting on your boss’s calendar for a check in.

Tell him/her how excited you are to be starting a family, how this is a blessing and answered prayer. Something you waited for, for a very long time. I would make sure the conversation was in high spirits and with excitement.

I would then steer the conversation to next steps to take by both your manager and you, to make sure you have enough PTO hours for appointments, ultrasounds, blood work, etc.

Then continue the conversation of who do I contact in benefits or HR to make sure that my child is properly added to my health insurance in the new year. How and when do I add them to my 401k as a beneficiary, is there an other steps I need to take to prepare and file for maternity leave? When do I file for Medical Leave/Short Term Disability for my Maternity Leave? How many weeks am I entitled to?

Get these conversations documented by email and by calendar invite. Keep the conversation high and upbeat. Don’t mention layoffs. Only speak of planning for the future. You have to beat them to it. Don’t risk being pregnant without medical coverage, especially during a possible layoff. Hopefully they will pass you over due to the optics and backlash they will receive if they were to lay you off.

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Post ID: @1pnv+177quwND

Congratulations! You're now Karlee Jenner. Stock up on those cute empire dresses and avoid the carb cravings. When you're at work life is normal and your belly is a new obsession with burrito bowls and French bread. When you're at home? Blow up that Pinterest board! Make your significant whatever repaint the nursery three or four times. Ever heard of baby blankets? Time to start stocking up because it's your God-given right!

And then talk to your manager in January. By that point the decision will or will not have been made.

And I hope that if you, like everyone else here, makes it through these next few months peacefully. You are going to have some stories to tell that baby when this is all over. And congratulations, you're going to be an awesome mom.

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Post ID: @1ypl+177quwND

@buq is too funny. You really know how to lighten an otherwise serious mood.

Wait until the second or third week in January 2021 to tell them. That still gives them enough time to figure out the logistics of your FMLA leave. Do not post anything on social media about your pregnancy.

Relax. Enjoy your pregnancy. Drink lots of water. Eat whatever you want. Do not worry about WTF–I mean, "WF."

At this point, your one job is to get that baby here as safely and healthily as you can and to take care of that baby's Dear Mama.

Good wishes and good thoughts to you...

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Post ID: @1kob+177quwND

Yea tell them and if they due sue for everything they have left in that bank

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Post ID: @wnv+177quwND

I would be transparent. Now, I do not know your manager, her/his ethics, etc.

I've had pregnant employees report to me several times - I've treated them with an utmost respect and I was always compassionate. We train managers not to discriminate and I never heard anyone even mention that we should use pregnacy as a factor when deciding about who to let go.

Ultimately, it's your choince - I just think it's easier when you levelset.

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Post ID: @pwl+177quwND

Hold off announcing as long as you possibly can. I was pregnant during a prior layoff and did not announce until I knew I was not part of the group losing their jobs. It is extremely difficult to prove you were let go due to pregnancy.

If you are keeping your pregnancy secret at work, you will really need to keep it secret for the most part in your personal life as well. Word travels fast.

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Post ID: @rmh+177quwND

dont listen to @jih. listen to everyone else. not only does he not know what a golden parachute is but you have to pay an attorney or theyll take a portion if your settlement. either way, its not your best option.

Trolls are gonna troll.

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Post ID: @zng+177quwND

Be glad you don't work at Sears. If you got pregnant and were not a manager you were gone. If management liked you they eased you out otherwise goodbye. Remember, that as sad as it seems, pregnancy is considered a disability. Follow through with FMLA and disability. Pray for a healthy baby.

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Post ID: @mrl+177quwND

Tell them.

If they discriminate and let you go, golden parachute lawsuit.

If they don't, business as usual.

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Post ID: @jih+177quwND

I'm not an expert here but I would definitely hold off on saying anything until you have to go back to the office, unless something medical comes up that makes it necessary. (I'm assuming you are remote, although I know not everyone at WF is WFH.)

If they can't see your bump and speculate, I'd keep it close to the vest. It's sad but... Trust No One.

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Post ID: @qtm+177quwND

Unless I'm mistaken, there's not really a yes/no indicator in an HR system for whether or not someone's pregnant. That, combined with how your manager will have little-to-no real say in who's laid off, means you telling him/her won't matter.

Those really deciding who's being let go will have no clue about you being pregnant. There are simply too many people to get rid of. Time and practicality dictate that the layoff selection won't be very thoughtful.

Your concerns are valid, but you're giving way too much credit to WF for being that thoughtful, organized, etc. when determining who's getting let go.

Layoffs will be what legal and hr determine to be a 'safe' blend of people to get rid of, based mostly on demographics, being in the same position too long, etc.

Working your rear off hoping to save your job will only result in greater resentment if you're let go.

Bottom line, do whatever you normally would or are most comfortable with. Micro actions like suddenly picking up more work, announcing your pregnancy, won't really help or hurt you. Your fate is probably already decided.

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Post ID: @jpl+177quwND

my kid had to get braces adjusted etc like once a week for a while and my other kid had a therapy session once every two weeks. id lie and say it was that or somethin similar if i had to. throw them off the trail. it isnt their business anyway.

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Post ID: @wbn+177quwND

Don’t stress it’s really bad for the baby. Just take FMLA and look for other work while your out. Re-tool if necessary. One request whatever you do please don’t name the baby Charlie.

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Post ID: @pdd+177quwND

It’s illegal to let you go for being pregnant but we all know that doesn’t always matter, does it? So, you are not obligated to tell your employer you are pregnant but will obviously want to file your fmla for leave. I have heard we may not go back into the office until February. That may not be true but let’s say it was January. If you wait as long as possible to say something then they wont know unless you are in the office. Even your OB/Gyn checkups may seem like a “tell” to you but you could have something else going on. They may not realize what’s going on before they make any layoff decisions. If you are going to try to keep it quiet as long as possible, don’t have peers on your social media unless it’s a separate account. I wouldn't say anything because they may not be able to see you until your last months of pregnancy. In the meantime, focus on working hard. Do not make any mistakes and document all your 1x1s, feedback, etc. If you can establish you were a good employee and suddenly are laid off due to performance (this is a tactic large companies employ) then you may be able to file unemployment anyway. I have seen this prevail after the company fired someone in their 8th month and the claim was denied then appealed and she won. At the end of the day, if they lay you off then that’s fine. You have a baby to worry about and will find something. Good luck!

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Post ID: @toe+177quwND

Because they are already in the process of doing layoffs you wouldn't have a legal case at all. I looked up this issue when i was pregnant at my old company and they were doing layoffs.

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Post ID: @cwb+177quwND

You should wait until you are at least 6 months before you announce it because you don't want to put a target on your head. I hope you don't get laid off and make it to your maternity leave.

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Post ID: @udu+177quwND

I don't work at your company but if you tell them now you are more likely to be protected from a layoff . it's very easy to to go after them and win a law suit if they try to get rid of you after you tell them.

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Post ID: @rkq+177quwND

Can you wait a few months to say anything? Nobody really admits to being pregnant until the "risk" stage has passed. Wait until most of the layoffs are done - if you can - but you will eventually have to say something because everyone will know eventually. Also try to minimize your dr appts during work hours and work as hard as you can in the meantime to make yourself less expendable.

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Post ID: @rkf+177quwND

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