Returning to Work

Notes

What advice would you give about planning for your return to work after maternity leave? 

Be really honest with yourself about what you want. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else and their situation. We all have different levels of support around us. Think carefully about your capacity now, how much time you have, how much energy you have and what you need as a family from a financial perspective. 

Thinking about what you actually want rather than what you think you should be doing. 

Being really honest about what is possible within your role. Thinking carefully about how much flexibility you could have.

When would you recommend speaking with your manager about your return to work? 

As soon as you have any clarity about what it is that you want, start the conversation. You can take ownership of this process. Some managers are brilliant at getting in touch and sharing relevant information, some are terrible at this process. You may need to take the lead. 

The clearer you are about what it is that you want the more likely you are to be able to shape it in a way that works for you. 

Consider what you will need to be successful. What will you need on your first day, your first week and your first month back. 

Finding balance between home and work when returning to work after maternity leave? 

It is common for women to take on more of the household tasks whilst on maternity leave. If this works for you, great. It suits most of us. However, when you return to work this will need to be addressed. You will have less time, so you won’t be able to continue as you were before. 

Sit down and consider all the tasks that are currently on your plate. What do you want to hold onto? What could be done in a different way, or by someone else? 

If you are going to relinquish a task, you need to hand it over and step away. If you want that space, you will need to let it go. This is often easier said than done.