Motherhood is a blessing. For the majority of women, motherhood is nothing short of a roller-coaster of emotions and challenges. It comes with its share of pleasures and aches. The maternity leave is kind of the first phase of your parenthood journey. Many new mothers face many challenges and problems with going back to work after maternity leave. In this post, we will look at the 8 Tips for Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave.
Being with your baby at home all day long makes you happy. For the working women, it is even more emotionally wrenching. More often than not, there is always a doubt of coming back to work post maternity leave. Work life seems like a blurred memory. Coming back to work after a long maternity leave can give you a panic attack. It’s very normal to feel overwhelmed due to the crashing of pregnancy hormones in your body.
You might be returning to the same company after a 12-weeks leave, a 6-months break, or planning to revamp your career after 2 – 3 years career gap. This post on 8 Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave will help you to get back on the road.
Get Rid of Your Mummy Guilt
This is a case of the majority of Moms. You have to get rid of it. Millions of working mothers are managing to raise amazing kids. Don’t be hard on yourself. You deserve to have a career. You just need to be organized – which comes naturally to all the Mothers around the world.
Remember why you are working. You might want to be financially more independent, have your own identity in the professional world, or share the household expenses with your significant half. Whatever the reason is, that’s going to be beneficial for you and your family (including your kid’s future) in the long-term. S/he may even be better off because of your career. Don’t believe me? Read this Harvard Study – Kids of working moms are better off!
Last but not the least, your baby is as much yours as your husband. With proper planning, a proactive approach, emotional awareness, and professionalism, there is no reason why a woman has to give up her career once she bears a child. So, no need to feel guilty at all. Be kind to yourself 🙂
Ask for Flexibility
Get in touch with your employer beforehand and discuss the flexibility – timings or work from home options. You could also get started as a part-time employee for the initial few months. That will really help you to get settled down during this transition phase. Remember, the first few weeks or months back is going to be the hardest.
Schedule an In-Person Meet-Up
I would really recommend this if you are joining the same workplace after your maternity leave. Catching up over a cup of coffee or having a casual lunch with your manager and/or colleagues a few weeks prior to return to work can be really helpful. This will give you an excellent opportunity to catch up on the office gossip, updates on the new projects, and what’s going on in everyone’s lives. Catching up on what’s going on at work and what projects await you will cut down on pre-first-day anxiety. So, you will really start to feel re-engaged with work.
Know Your Legal Rights
Legally, you are entitled to return to the exact same job position you were working on before your maternity leave. If your employer refuses to revert your position and job scope, be aware of your legal rights; don’t be afraid to seek legal help.
Alternatively, speak to your employer; analyze the alternative role in detail and assess the circumstances.
Be Prepared for the Challenges after a Significant Career Gap
According to a study by the World Bank in collaboration with the National Sample Survey Organisation, 20 million Indian women quit jobs between 2004 and 2012. Around 65-70% of women who quit never return to work at all. Besides, the pay cut issue is also there.
Self-confidence could be an issue. But, professional challenges are also there; especially if you are planning to return to the workforce after a gap of more than 2 years. Here are a few things you could try:
Plan Ahead:
Plan your break carefully by setting yourself an end date and having back up plans in place.
Keep in Touch:
Networking is one of the most important tools you can arm yourself with when taking a sabbatical. A strong support system of colleagues and professional contacts can smoothen your way back to the position you left behind.
Stay Updated:
When you are ‘between jobs’, it is crucial to do everything to stay up to date with what is happening in your line of work. Take online courses; especially those involving capstone projects. Join discussion forums, do research and keep learning. Continuous learning is always beneficial irrespective of your career stage.
Worried about Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? Explore the hottest online courses for career development and the current job market.
Engage in Freelance Work:
If your profile allows it, take up freelance projects. Even if the remuneration is low, don’t worry. After all, you will have something to show during your career gap.
Read: Here is How You Can Become a Part of the Freelancing and Gig Economy
Maintain (or improve) the Online Presence:
We all know how important the online presence in today’s competitive job market is. You could treat motherhood as the real job that it is (at least on LinkedIn) and clearly state the reason for taking a career pause; thanks to The Pregnancy Pause.
Read: Tips for Online Presence and Personal Branding in Today’s Job Market
Choose a Trustworthy Daycare/Preschool
This is the big one. You can start on it even before your child is born. Finding childcare you can trust is half the battle won. Choosing the right childcare is a major concern for most working parents. Flexibility, availability, and costs can vary quite dramatically.
Read: Preschool Teacher Career and Jobs in India
Stock Up on the Essentials
It is extremely important that you have all the essentials in place before you return to work. You’re back in the world right after a huge transition. If you’re prepared, things will be easier and definitely less embarrassing.
Here’s a short but useful list:
- Breast pump to pump and store your breast milk
- Nursing pads in case meetings run late and you are unable to pump out the excess flow
- Healthy snacks to eat at regular intervals
- A decent and functional tote that will carry all of the above
Having both feet in two different worlds can be quite a daunting affair for a new mother, especially in the professional (or corporate) setting where not only the work but social pressure to perform is high.
Worried about Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? Don’t be too afraid to take it at your own pace and find the right balance between work and family, with the support of your spouse and colleagues of course!
We live in the 21st Century and there is no reason why motherhood should impede you from achieving excellence in your professional careers.
Article first published on tanmoyray.com