Rather like those last few days before you go on holiday, the last few weeks before your maternity leave starts, is full on. There are so many questions to answer: who will be dealing with my work, how will I hand over whats outstanding, when will I be back, what will happen when something important happens and many more. The temptation is to say ‘don’t worry I am only at the end of a phone/computer’ forgetting that a little friend will also be there with you and only too happy to make their presence felt as soon as you switch on that work button. Employers are also extremely hesitant to contact you during maternity leave, and rightly so, though new legislation has outlined reasonable contact is good practice for both parties.
So how can leave without worry, or feeling you have a half packed suitcase and you’ve forgotten your passport?
Agree your communication plan with at least 2 people Nine months is a long time in business. There are usually many changes; just think who’s new in organization and whats changed on the last year? Many women say the person who they have a ‘relationship’, with who understands what they want, how they work, is often doing something else when they are looking to discuss their return. So maintain flexibility and to ensure your wishes are followed through. Agree a plan with at least 2 people. Asking someone in management and HR may also be a useful place to start.
What type of communicationdo you want do you want while you are away. All emails, asked to all ‘important’ meetings or just catch up on the phone once a month. Think about what level makes you feel part of the team but not ‘at work’. Sometimes it can feel they don’t care when you have no communication and its easy to forget how focused on you can become when at work. its not personal its just that they might know who and how to involve you and need to get with their own work load. how will your 10 in touch days be used? Having some idea will really help them know what level of communication to keep up. It also means you can think about childcare and whether you’ll be paid for this well in advance.
whats going to happen to my job if you work on commission and your contacts are handed over to someone else, then this is a really important question. It is also a way some employers change jobs while women are on mat leave ie put someone in who is full time, higher grade or merge it with another role. It can make the return daunting so have these conversations now while you are clear on what you think is best for the business longer term.
what can I do if I am the company?When you are self employed many of these conversations are internal and even harder tie down because you can make up the rules as you go along and justify it. talking to someone external is really helpful here. either a coach who will help you uncover whats best for you and your family or someone who is self employed and been through the process. have a look at the many networking groups online which Antonia recommends in the next article.
In essence having a flexible plan will leave you less to think about and when things do come up, which they will, you’ll know what to do to keep all relationships sweet.