Returning To Work After Maternity Leave

Having a baby is a life-changing experience, and new mothers typically take several weeks or months of maternity leave to recover from the birth and spend precious time bonding with their new baby.

However, maternity leave eventually comes to an end, and returning to work brings its own unique set of new challenges. As well as the practicalities to consider, like childcare arrangements, working hours, and potential change in income, it’s not unusual to experience a rollercoaster of emotions when faced with leaving your baby for the first time.

If your maternity leave is coming to an end, it can help to have your new daily routine planned out step by step, as well as a reliable backup plan in place for if things go awry (which is inevitable from time to time!).

Let’s look at some things you may want to consider.

Understanding Your Rights

Some countries have laws in place to protect women’s rights after maternity leave. In the UK, there are rules regarding the hours, contract, and job role your employer can offer you when you return to work. You can read about your rights, as well as how to raise a grievance if you think you’ve been unfairly treated, at ACAS.

‘Keeping In Touch’ Days

If you’re in the UK, you may have heard of ‘keeping in touch’ (KIT) days, a government initiative designed to help women maintain contact with their workplace to make the transition back to work smoother. KIT days are optional, and you can take a maximum of 10 days. You won’t be paid for these work days, but they won’t affect your maternity pay, either (usually, when you return to work, your maternity pay stops).

Childcare Arrangements

Childcare is never far from most new mothers’ minds as they near the end of maternity leave. It’s a big decision, and whether you’ve decided on a nursery, childminder, au pair, nanny or family member, you’ve probably given it a lot of thought already. As well as arranging regular childcare, you’ll also need a plan for if your baby is sick or needs collecting unexpectedly. Many employers are becoming more family-friendly, allowing some flexibility to deal with these situations. However, if your employer or job role has more rigid hours, you’ll need to know someone else can be on standby to pick up your little one if necessary.

Feeling Out Of The Loop

Feeling disconnected is normal when you’ve been away from work for a while. Colleagues may have come and gone while you’ve been away, processes change and move on, and it can take a while to get back into the swing of things. It’s extremely common to experience a crisis of confidence after an extended period of time away from work. Keep open communication with your manager to let them know how you’re feeling and if you need any additional training or support while you catch up. (Before you know it, it’ll feel like you’ve never been away).

Maintaining Self-Care

Returning to work after having a baby can feel like managing the impossible: juggling the demands of performing well at your job, spending quality time with your baby and family, and running a busy household.

It’s so easy for self-care to get pushed to the bottom of your list, but neglecting your needs is a recipe for burnout. Make sure you lean on people around you to get the support you need. At the very least, remember the basics: get good quality sleep, drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet, and move your body whenever you can.