high risk pregnancy and work

I just started got hired at my new job about a month ago. I didn't tell my boss that I am pregnant because I was afraid I'd be passed over fpr employment if he knew. I got the job and about a week later my dr called me and told me that there are some complications with the pregnancy and I need to be on modified bed rest. He said its ok to work as long as I'm not lifting anything heavy. How do I inform my employer about my situation and is it illegal to fire me because I won't be able to do as much as my employer needs me to do?

1. You just tell them.

2. I'm not sure. You would have to look up the labor laws in your state and check with HR at the company. They could fire you and argue that you withheld a previously existing condition that made you unable to do your job as hired. They could also argue that you are still in a probationary period and they don't need a reason to fire you past it just not working out.

Good luck!

What are your complications? Where do u work and what are your job duties?

You'll just have to tell them. Since you're still in your probationary period, they may be able to fire, but I don't know. If your state is an at-will employer, they can fire you.

I'm high-risk. I've been in and out of the doctor with different issues and have missed several days of work. I work full-time in a hospital where I have to do heavy lifting (even though I'm not supposed to). I'm worried they're going to fire me since I've missed a lot of work.  

I have to agree with everyone else on the probationary period thing. During that period, they can technically fire you for anything.

I do , however think that firing a pregnant woman just because she's pregnant (and no other reasons) is considered discrimination. There are a lot of laws about that, and some specifically concerning pregnancy. I was having issues with my job wanting me to lift heavy things (people!) when I was pregnant, so I looked into all the laws and such. I know it varies from state to state though.

As far as them thinking you withheld information from them. Just tell them you didn't know you were pregnant when they hired you. Plenty of women don't know very early on.
http://advocatesforpregnantwomen.org/06CFinalDraft.pdf

Thanks for the responses ladies. My job isn't very demanding but I work overnight at a fast food restaurant. The majority of tasks are pretty easy but seeming its the overnight shift were responsible for stocking and deep cleaning (which involves moving all the machines to clean under and around everything) Katie I like your idea of just saying I didn't know I was pregnant! And I know they can't fire simply because im pregnant but it's hard to prove that's why they fired me. (Assuming they would)

Quoting Amber n dave:" Thanks for the responses ladies. My job isn't very demanding but I work overnight at a fast food restaurant. ... [snip!] ... And I know they can't fire simply because im pregnant but it's hard to prove that's why they fired me. (Assuming they would)"

Overnights suck.  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Squeaky McGee [20 wks]:</b>" Overnights suck.  "</blockquote>




Yea they do! Especially with a six month old at home

Quoting Amber n dave:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Squeaky McGee [20 wks]:</b>" Overnights suck.  "</blockquote> Yea they do! Especially with a six month old at home"

I'm convinced a lot of my physical/emotional issues have resulted from the stupid overnight shifts and the sleep deprivation.

That's what I did with my job - I told them when I was about 3 months along and just said I didn't know when they hired me. I'm a nurse, and this particular job was private duty. I'd go to peoples houses and do their meds , change the dressing (wound care) and so on. They're supposed to have two people there, but being short handed , I'd often be left by myself...which means I was also responsible for all personal care....it was almost impossible to move some of those people, even using a lift. Every time I'd tell t hem I needed some help, they'd tell me "you'll be fine" and so on. Eventually, I had to quit.