Work aware

[Squeak2]

Has everyone let their work know that they are having treatment? I have a full time temporary post which has been renewed and half way through its second year. I haven’t told my boss about any of the treatment for fear of not having a job to come back to long term if it actually works! I’ve had conflicting advice from many friends... unsure what to do ☹️ any thoughts please? xx

[Tugsgirl]

I’m not in that position at work but for me I had to tell them due to needing time off for the many appointments etc xx

[Squeak2 in reply to Tugsgirl]

I work shifts and had been lucky that up to now I was able to fit it all in nicely xx

[Hidden]

I told my bosses as needed time off for appointments. They have been really good and understanding. I wanted to take the whole time off from ec to otd all I could give was a rough date which was confirmed two days before I needed it. Currently on my tww. I can understand why people don't I just couldn't get round it working mon to fri 8am-5pm cx

[Squeak2]

I’m a support worker in a small work team so unfortunately I just wouldn’t be able to do that, what makes it difficult is ppl are already off on hols and sickness so I feel like I’m doing wrong if I might need to be off too xx

[penny24]

Hi squeak

I'm debating this myself

I managed to juggle round one without telling anyone so I'm hopefully I can juggle this round the same. Although it would be nice to have some support at work but then no one at work knowing is nice because I can escape

I suppose, is it going to cause u more stress calling in sick and them not knowing the real reason why? Xx

[Squeak2]

Pretty much hit the nail on the head! That is making me anxious as I’m just never off 😞 xx

[penny24 in reply to Squeak2]

Good luck with it all and I hope your cycle goes to plan xx

[Squeak2 in reply to penny24]

Thanks, good luck to you also xx

[Dreamingofbaby]

I only told my direct line manager and that has been brill as could just go off at short notice for appointments n go in later if needed. She has been brill but know it can be rare and am lucky. If it was any other manager in my organisation then would def be diff. I would say it can be sooo useful to let at least one manager know so they can have that understanding of needing to go to short notice appointments and understand the need for time off after EC. But otherwise all work places should respect personal medical appointments and you just call in sick for when have EC and after ☺️. Always up to u. It be discrimination if they did ask you to leave based on this I would have thought too. X. Best wishes x

[Squeak2 in reply to Dreamingofbaby]

Thank you x

[Yammie1973]

I have just started a new job. I have not told my employer about the fact that the week before starting I had my first ec.....a) it is none of their business and b) it is supposed to be illegal to discriminate against women ttc BUT they find ways of getting rid (around the loopholes of law). Going into my 2nd round for ec, I may well have to tell the HR dept because of travelling to and from the clinic in another county for appointments etc. But that is as far as it will go.....it will be nobody else's business.

[Peppy26]

I have been struggling with this as well. I work in a small, close team and am never off so it's really hard not telling them but I don't really want any of them to know until there is something to tell! I'm having to just book off a chunk of leave for egg collection through to implantation (fingers crossed). Tricky isn't it.

[Squeak2 in reply to Peppy26]

Very tricky! I had very little warning about when my treatment was going to start so I had no options when it came to wanting to book time off work at all 😕 hence my panic about time off sick xx

[lorraineb61]

I've been quite fortunate in both my cycles that all me appointments have been first thing & the clinic we're attending is literally 5 mins from my work so I haven't had to take any time off for that.

For the first cycle EC, I just phoned in sick & took a days holiday for the ET. For the 2nd EC, I took a holiday. We never got to ET that time so wasn't an issue.

I work in a team of 2 & hadn't told the other person until the day after our BFP the first time. I felt I owed her an explanation as I ended up having to go home at 3pm absolutely distraught.

If there's someone you can trust in work then tell them, you don't have to constantly talk to them about it but they can cover for you with other people if you're upset at any point. I'm not the kind of person that gets upset a lot but these hormones screw you right up so it's always nice that someone has you back.

[Ang24816]

Hiya.

Check your HR policy, my organisation allows time off for 3 cycles of IVF. I have been completely open with my boss about the whole journey and have found work to be very supportive. I know that may be because they have to be as it's in a policy. Good luck xx

[Squeak2]

Thanks for all the re assurance! It would have helped if the clinic could have been a little more forth coming with treatment dates and stuff... feel rather left in the dark about what’s actually going on around me as they have a plan and I’m not allowed to know! xx

[Rachwithers]

I teach and have had to let them know due to needing time out for appts etc. My headteacher is amazing x

[sk85]

I work for a bank and I've been very lucky. Currently only my line manager and his manager know as well as the 2 supervisors on the team and they have been absolutely brilliant. Each time I've left to go to an appointment they have always wished me good luck and told me not to rush back etc. For me its made it more stress free,I had told them all because I will be taking 2 weeks off in my 2ww which starts today and my line manager is it not even going to report it as sick leave (I was expecting it go down as sick and get a sick note for next week.) Everyone's different but I think if at least 1 person you trust at work (not to blab lol)know's it helps. X