Gender Reveal at Work: How to Share with Coworkers

Gender Reveal at Work: Tasteful Ways to Share Your News with Coworkers

Sharing your baby's gender with coworkers can be a wonderful way to include your work family in your pregnancy journey. But navigating the professional environment requires a thoughtful approach that's celebratory without being disruptive.

This guide covers everything from timing and etiquette to creative ideas that work in any workplace setting.

Should You Do a Gender Reveal at Work?

Consider These Factors First

• •Is your office generally celebratory of life events?
• •Have others done baby announcements before?
• •What's the relationship with your team?

• •Do you want to share this at work?
• •Are you comfortable being the center of attention?
• •How much do you want coworkers involved?

• •Have you told close family first?
• •Is it an appropriate time (not during layoffs, crunch time, etc.)?
• •Will key people be present?

Office-Appropriate Gender Reveal Ideas

Low-Key Approaches

1. Email Announcement

Send a tasteful email with a photo or graphic revealing the gender.

Subject: Some Personal News to Share!

Hi Team,

We're excited to share that Baby [Last Name] is a [BOY/GIRL]! We found out this weekend and couldn't wait to tell our work family.

Thank you for all the support during this exciting time!

2. Desk Decoration Reveal

Arrive at work with subtle pink or blue decorations at your desk. Let coworkers notice and ask.

3. Coffee/Snack Announcement

Bring pink or blue donuts, cupcakes, or candy to share with the team.

4. Virtual Background Reveal

For remote workers, change your video call background to reveal the gender during a team meeting.

Interactive Office Reveals

5. Scratch-Off Cards

Give each coworker a scratch-off card that reveals "It's a Boy!" or "It's a Girl!"

6. Balloon in a Box

Open a box at your desk to reveal a pink or blue balloon floating up.

7. Team Guessing Game

Have coworkers guess before revealing, then announce the results.

8. Confetti Pop (Contained)

Small confetti poppers at your desk—easy to clean up and office-friendly.

Remote and Hybrid Workplace Reveals

For Virtual Teams

9. Synchronized Video Reveal

10. Slack/Teams Announcement

Post in your team channel with a GIF, photo, or creative graphic.

11. Virtual Meeting Reveal

Share your screen during a team call and do a live reveal with everyone watching.

12. Email Scavenger Hunt

Send clues throughout the day leading to the final reveal email.

For Hybrid Teams

• •In-office: Small celebration with treats
• •Remote: Send a care package with something pink or blue inside
• •Combined: Virtual reveal link everyone can access simultaneously

Timing Your Workplace Gender Reveal

Best Times to Announce

• •Team meeting end (don't interrupt business)
• •Lunch hour or break time
• •Friday afternoon (celebratory mood)
• •After a project completion

• •During important presentations
• •When key team members are absent
• •During difficult company times
• •Right before deadlines

Who to Tell First

1. •Your manager - Professional courtesy
2. •HR - They may need to know for leave planning
3. •Close work friends - Before the group announcement
4. •Full team - The reveal itself
5. •Broader company - If desired, after team

Workplace Gender Reveal Etiquette

Do's

• •Keep it brief and workplace-appropriate
• •Include remote team members
• •Be mindful of others' situations (fertility struggles, losses)
• •Clean up any mess immediately
• •Thank people for their well-wishes
• •Keep it during non-critical work time

Don'ts

• •Don't make it overly elaborate or disruptive
• •Don't pressure anyone to participate
• •Don't do it during someone else's meeting or event
• •Don't expect gifts (this isn't a baby shower)
• •Don't monopolize work time
• •Don't post coworker reactions without permission

Creative Ideas by Workplace Type

Corporate Office

• •Professional email with photo
• •Subtle desk decorations
• •Small treats in the break room

Casual Startup

• •Fun Slack announcement with GIFs
• •Team lunch reveal
• •Office-wide guessing poll

Healthcare/Hospital

• •Scrub color reveal (if allowed)
• •Badge with pink or blue ribbon
• •Break room announcement

Retail/Service Industry

• •Before-shift team huddle
• •Staff room treats
• •Group text reveal

Remote/WFH

• •Virtual background reveal
• •Synchronized online reveal
• •Care package with reveal item

Education/School

• •Faculty room announcement
• •Classroom door decoration
• •Staff meeting share

Budget-Friendly Workplace Reveals

Under $20

• •Box of donuts in reveal color
• •Printed announcement cards
• •Balloon and ribbon at desk

Under $50

• •Cupcakes for the team
• •Small treats with announcement
• •Virtual reveal subscription for team

Free Options

• •Email announcement
• •Desk sign you made
• •Virtual background
• •Slack/Teams message

Handling Different Reactions

Positive Reactions

Accept congratulations graciously and share your excitement appropriately.

Neutral Reactions

Not everyone will be effusive—that's okay and normal in professional settings.

Complex Situations

• •Coworkers with fertility struggles: A personal heads-up before group announcement shows care
• •Recent losses in the office: Be sensitive to timing
• •Pregnancy discrimination concerns: Document your announcement if needed

Including Your Team in the Celebration

Beyond the Reveal

• •Thank coworkers for their support
• •Share occasional updates if appropriate
• •Include them in baby shower if you choose
• •Bring baby photos after arrival

Maintaining Professionalism

While celebrating is wonderful, remember:

• •Work priorities remain
• •Not everyone needs constant updates
• •Keep baby talk to appropriate times
• •Continue performing your job well

Virtual Reveal for Global Teams

If your team spans multiple locations or time zones:

1. •Choose a time that works for most - Or record for others
2. •Use a platform everyone can access
3. •Consider a synchronized reveal - RevealTogether works across time zones
4. •Send a follow-up for those who missed it

Sample Announcement Templates

Formal Email

Dear Team,

I'm happy to share that we've learned we're expecting a baby boy/girl, due [month]. Thank you for your continued support during this exciting time.

Best regards, [Name]

Casual Slack Message

🎉 It's official! Baby [Name] is going to be a BOY/GIRL! 💙/💗 Thanks for being the best work family! Cupcakes in the break room to celebrate!

Meeting Announcement

"Before we wrap up, I have some personal news to share. We found out this weekend that we're having a [boy/girl]! Thank you all for your support!"

Conclusion

Sharing your baby's gender at work can be a lovely way to include your professional community in your celebration. The key is finding an approach that fits your workplace culture, respects everyone's time, and feels authentic to you.

Whether you choose a simple email, a treat-filled announcement, or a synchronized virtual reveal for your dispersed team, the goal is to share your joy in a way that's appropriate for your professional environment.