I just found out that I’m pregnant and I’m starting at a new firm (big law) in two weeks. Conflicts have cleared, and I have given notice at my current firm. Should I disclose to the new firm to confirm I can get the full maternity leave? I have not seen anything in the benefits summary providing a certain amount of time at the firm to be eligible.

First, Congratulations! 🎉

You’ve already given notice and accepted the new position. I would not say anything before starting. I’d give it a few weeks and disclose your pregnancy at the same time you would if you weren’t new to the firm. This probably won’t be a first for them.

Hopefully, you could negotiate some paid leave even if the policy doesn’t expressly provide for it. And if not, hopefully the pay is significant enough that you could take unpaid leave and be okay, if you had to.

I hate to say this, but as someone who just went through a 5 week miscarriage a few months ago, be careful what you say so early on. It’s still early days. Wishing all the absolute best for you ❤️❤️❤️

Ask for employee policy handbook from HR. Hopefully you’ll get insight into what you’re entitled to and can disclose based on what you learn. Congrats!

I recommend waiting to disclose your pregnancy until at least hearing the heartbeat (8-10weeks). As others have said, ask for the documents that would answer this question. If you don’t get your answer in the handbook/policy etc and are forced to ask the question, you can simply ask what the waiting period is to be eligible for parental leave. You don’t have to tell them you’re pregnant to ask the question. For all they know, you’re thinking about starting to try to conceive soon…

I probably wouldn’t disclose until I started showing unless it was relevant to the job, e.g. taking off for doctors appointments or needing to slow down due to sickness.

As others have said, it’s unfortunately too early to assume that all will be well (though I sincerely hope that it is!). Even the “usual” 12 weeks mark isn’t a guarantee - but the odds do go up substantially after that.

I was at the same biglaw firm for 2 “successful” pregnancies and four miscarriages - I really wished I had not disclosed early. I didn’t tell the world, but was in intensive litigation in which it was easier to just reveal to the partners involved that I was undergoing IVF rather than make up excuses for daily ultrasounds, etc - but then let myself get bullied into keeping everyone posted on “news.” Which led to four serious bummers that I would have preferred not to have be public knowledge - and one super insensitive partner suggesting that I should “just adopt” after an unplanned hospital stay for a later-term miscarriage inconvenienced him. (He said it was only because it was the 4th one and he thought he was giving me “permission” not to put myself through any more. Seriously.)

Anyway, the point to my cautionary tale is, there’s a good reason why pregnancy disclosures should be delayed until things are more definite.

Just because you’re starting a new job doesn’t change that - and indeed, you have more reason to be cautious when you don’t know your colleagues or the culture yet. I don’t know what they will do about maternity leave, but they went through the trouble to hire you and won’t want to lose you over something like that. In their position, I would be thinking of ways to “make it work.”

How far along are you?

F

It’s fine to ask HR. It won’t get to partners. Just tell them you’re keeping it confidential. Don’t worry about blowback, HR will not tell anyone who could affect your career.

I would ask for the maternity leave policy without disclosing

I wouldn't announce anything until first trimester is over. There are so many problems that can arise in the first trimester. It can be devastating having everyone know and something happen.