Becoming a parent is a time of transition with new responsibilities and adjustments and this continues when parents return to work after maternity leave.
I chat with mums about their maternity leave and their return to work: how they feel about it, their preparation, what went well and what might have made a difference to them.
I have spoken to parents with a range of job roles and from very different industries yet some common ideas emerged:
Having a check-in before returning to work
It can be helpful to have:
- a clear pathway of communication during maternity leave to help parents feel informed and included without pressure and feeling like they are at work
- a conversation a few weeks before the end of maternity leave to reduce anxiety and help everyone prepare
- a return to work plan which can help with expectations as well as practical considerations such as any changes to the organisation, job role or team, working hours, flexibility and any needs around a phased return.
Training for managers to support returning parents
This comes up frequently in conversations and some mums have commented that they feel like they return to work pretending like they haven’t had a baby. A supportive manager who understands some of the challenges can make a big difference to help parents fit back in and to ease any concerns about being able to do their job.
Build in conversations
These check-ins can focus on boosting confidence and providing reassurance and encouragement where needed.
These conversations can also provide the basis for going support and conversations because this adjustment takes time: I have worked with parents who are a few months into their return after maternity leave and they are only just starting to feel settled.
Connecting with other returning parents
Creating a small community of parent colleagues or linking with another colleague who has been through the same experience can be invaluable.
Reviewing policies through a parent’s lens
Involving a panel of parents in a discussion and audit of policies can be useful to assess whether policies are flexible, supportive, clear and easy to access when people need them most.
Parents can feel quite differently about work after maternity leave: some mums are eager to return to work, it can add purpose and identity, they want to do well and they want to continue to achieve.
For other mums, work is a necessity, something they need to pay the bills. Whatever their feelings about work, mums have commented that it makes a difference when employers acknowledge and understand some of the challenges that can affect working parents.
- I work with organisations everywhere, to support working parents
- You can read more working parent blogs
I would love to hear your experiences and ideas for being supported at work before and after maternity leave.
Janine Smith | antenatal & postnatal specialist
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