Survive, and even thrive in work after your parental leave
Stay connected
Everyone is different, some people will want to completely disconnect from their work life, however, sometimes a complete disconnection can be a source of anxiety, questions like, what am I missing?, am I being forgotten?, will I be lost when I return?, can start to creep in.
I found it helpful to have some level of involvement, such as:
- Attending work social events is a nice way to stay in touch in a fun and casual environment, and without the pressure of going to the office.
- Consider using your ‘Keep in Touch days’. When you are on maternity leave, you are entitled to take up to ten Keep in Touch days. These are fully paid days, where you can set up some casual catch-up meetings with colleagues and get updates on what’s been happening in the business. I took eight months maternity leave and used nine of my KIT days, they really helped to keep me up-to-date on what was going on and relieve that sense of feeling out of touch. I could pop into the office, have coffee catch ups with colleagues, and go for after-work drinks - I was in the work atmosphere without the pressure of having to do the job, and I enjoyed the days. Also, it's worth noting that you could ask for your KIT days to be virtual catch-ups from home, or pop into the office for the core hours of maybe 10am-4pm for example.
- Simply dipping in and out and engaging with your company’s LinkedIn feed is an easy way to stay updated and feel included.
- Staying active and up-to-date in any team WhatsApp groups can also be a nice way of being involved in your team’s lives from a personal perspective, if you have that kind of relationship.
Explore your options
A friend I met through antenatal classes said I inspired her to speak to her employer about a phased return to work. She is a lawyer, and the legal sector can be notorious for long working hours and not a great work-life balance, however my friend spoke frankly with her boss, and they agreed on a solution that worked for them both. If you don't ask, you don't get!
Trust your team
Walking away from your role for a prolonged period is nerve-wracking! You wonder whether your team will cope well without you, or will things be a mess upon your return. Similarly, when you come back into the business, it can be a challenge to slot back in where you left off, will there be power struggles, or resentments? I am privileged to have amazing, dedicated and hardworking people on my team. As a leader, I trust their ability, listen to their points of view, and appreciate that they have a life outside of work. By mutually respecting everyone’s work-life balance, and building trust, it meant that they were empowered and encouraged to provide cover while I was away, and they know that I will do the same for them in different periods of their lives too.
Create allies
Any sort of change has the potential to be scary, even if you are the sort of person that welcomes it.
It’s important to surround yourself with people you trust when you are going through change"
Reach out and talk to your family and friends. Join antenatal groups where you can create relationships with people going through similar situations at the same time. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable with your team and wider colleagues in your company, even if you're the manager. I expressed my apprehension about returning to work with some of my colleagues - managing the transition, figuring out childcare, leaving my baby in a new place on their own, having imposter syndrome at work – it’s a lot!!, .... however, rather than feeling foolish for sharing, I felt better for it. It created an opportunity for compassion and connection with others, because after all, we are only human.
Believe in yourself!
I’ve left this one until last, but it’s probably the most important.
Yes, you took a break from work, and yes, you are returning a changed person, but never forget that you have built your career, and you have earned your place in the workplace. It should only ever be viewed as a positive that you took some time out to do something amazing like becoming a parent"
Everyone knows that being a parent is a hard job, especially the initial adjustment period, so if you've made it out the other side and are ready to return to work, then be proud of yourself, shake off any self-doubt and return with a new, fresh perspective on things, which will add value to your company, and your team.
Thanks for reading my article, I hope you found some of the points helpful, and I wish you all the best in your return to work. If you are unhappy with the level of support you are getting upon your return, then maybe it’s time for a change, you can browse our finance, technology & change roles here on our website.
Signup to receive the latest discipline specific articles
Related articles
Teaser
Finance & AccountingContent Type
General
25/04/24
Summary
Over the years, we have developed a strong reputation as a leading Senior Finance and Executive Search firm. We’re proud to have well-established teams of finance and accounting recruitment cons
by
Neil Burton
Teaser
GovernanceContent Type
Fintech
18/04/24
Summary
The role of risk and compliance in financial services As a sizeable, growing portion of the financial services sector, risk and compliance play a vital role in ensuring that firms conduct busine
by
David Clamp
Teaser
Executive SearchContent Type
General
18/04/24
Summary
Private equity (PE) is a growing industry that has always attracted ambitious top talent due to its high risk/high gain capital investment. Pre-covid, we saw the global private equity industry b
by
Tracey Alper
Related jobs
Salary:
£95,000 - £100,000 per annum
Location:
City of London, London
Industry
Property and Infrastructure
Qualification
None specified
Market
Commerce & Industry
Salary
£100,000 - £125,000
Job Discipline
Architecture
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
EA
Reference
BBBH180134
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Michael MorettiAuthor
Michael MorettiSalary:
Negotiable
Location:
Dublin South, Dublin
Industry
Manufacturing
Qualification
None specified
Market
Commerce & Industry
Salary
£50,000 - £60,000
Job Discipline
Business Analysis
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
Senior Data Analyst - Dublin South - Global Manufacturing Company
Reference
BBBH179978
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Cillian McevoyAuthor
Cillian McevoySalary:
Up to €2,600 per month
Location:
Amstelveen, North Holland
Industry
Consumer & Retail
Qualification
Part qualified
Market
Commerce & Industry
Salary
£25,000 - £30,000
Job Discipline
Newly Qualified Finance
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
Medewerker Data Entry
Reference
BBBH180140
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Elisa BeckschebeAuthor
Elisa BeckschebeSalary:
Up to €3,500 per month
Location:
Ouder-Amstel, North Holland
Industry
Professional Services
Qualification
Fully qualified
Market
Commerce & Industry
Salary
£35,000 - £40,000
Job Discipline
Qualified Finance
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
GL ACCOUNTANT
Reference
BBBH180104
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Elisa BeckschebeAuthor
Elisa BeckschebeSalary:
Up to £15 per hour
Location:
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Industry
Business Services
Qualification
None specified
Market
Commerce & Industry
Salary
£100 - £150
Job Discipline
Part Qualified & Transactional Finance
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
Working in partnership with an organisation in the Pharma industry to recruit a Collection Assistant. This is a 3-6 month contract paying around £15 (Umbrella)
Reference
BBBH180152
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Ali ArslanAuthor
Ali ArslanSalary:
£32,000 - £35,000 per annum
Location:
Birmingham, West Midlands
Industry
Property and Infrastructure
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance
Qualification
Part qualified
Market
Commerce & Industry
Salary
£35,000 - £40,000
Job Discipline
Part Qualified & Transactional Finance
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
Marks Sattin are partnering with a rapidly growing Housing / Property organisation in Birmingham who are seeking an Assistant Management Accountant.
Reference
BBBH180136
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Anthony MillsAuthor
Anthony MillsSalary:
+ Benefits
Location:
London
Industry
Private Equity
Qualification
Fully qualified
Market
Financial Services
Salary
£100,000 - £125,000
Job Discipline
Qualified Finance
Contract Type:
Contract
Description
Senior Fund Controller (Private Debt Funds) - 12m Contract
Reference
BBBH177293
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Paul RocheAuthor
Paul RocheSalary:
£150,000 - £175,000 per annum + Equity, Bonus and Benefits
Location:
West Midlands
Industry
Business Services
Qualification
Fully qualified
Market
Executive Search
Salary
£175,000 - £250,000
Job Discipline
Private Equity Executive Search
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
Marks Sattin executive search is working with a PE-Backed Environmental services business
Reference
TA 3255
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Executive SearchAuthor
Executive SearchSalary:
£150,000 - £170,000 per annum + Equity, bonus and benefits
Location:
Essex
Industry
Business Services
Qualification
Fully qualified
Market
Executive Search
Salary
£125,000 - £175,000
Job Discipline
Private Equity Executive Search
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
Marks Sattin Executive Search is working with a PE-backed multisite product-led distribution business
Reference
TA 3252
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Executive SearchAuthor
Executive SearchSalary:
£150,000 - £175,000 per annum + Equity, Bonus and Benefits
Location:
Yorkshire and the Humber
Industry
Business Services
Qualification
Fully qualified
Market
Executive Search
Salary
£175,000 - £250,000
Job Discipline
Private Equity Executive Search
Contract Type:
Permanent
Description
Marks Sattin Executive Search has an exciting opportunity for a CFO to join a PE Backed infrastructure business
Reference
TA 3253
Expiry Date
01/01/01
Author
Executive SearchAuthor
Executive Search