Notifying employer of pregnancy

Do I have to notify my employer as soon as I find out I’m pregnant?

While employees have a choice when to notify their employer that they are pregnant, there may be health and safety, and relevant College training roster considerations to do so.

All people in the workforce have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and to comply with workplace obligations. You and your employer should discuss any changes that need to be made so that your workplace is safe for you while you are pregnant.

Some awards, agreements or workplace policies specifically allow personal leave to be used to attend prenatal medical appointments. In addition to personal/carer’s leave, the Fair Work Act provides for unpaid special maternity leave for eligible pregnant employees and have a pregnancy-related illness.

If you are in the middle of placement for GP Training, it would be a good idea to talk to your relevant College as soon as possible to start planning your roster, any parental leave you might wish to take, and perhaps a return to work timeline.

How early into your pregnancy you tell your employer is really up to you. You may want to familiarise yourself with the minimum notice periods if you plan on taking leave under the Fair Work Act. There is more useful information available on working while pregnant (or potentially pregnant) on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.