Reaching the end of your maternity leave can feel incredibly daunting. After having a baby, it’s likely that your entire routine has changed. With less time for yourself and more personal responsibility, juggling work commitments is a fine balance. Even though you can book up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, the time will fly by.
With some careful preparation and the right advice, settling back into your role can be done smoothly. In this guide, we’ve outlined some of the best steps towards a smooth return to work after having a baby.
Returning to the same role
You can still return to your workplace if you take 52 weeks for your new baby.
Remember, you don’t have to take the maximum amount of maternity leave offered to you. The first 26 weeks of maternity leave are legally known as ‘Ordinary Maternity Leave’, and you have the right to return to the same job after this period.
If you’ve taken over 26 weeks, it counts as ‘Additional Maternity Leave’ and still gives you the right to return to work on the same contractual terms. If there have been major changes to your company during that time, you might be offered a different but similar role.
Contacting your employer
You’ll need to tell your employer when you’re due to return to work. This needs to be done at least 8 weeks in advance, especially if you’d like to return to work sooner or later than initially planned.
You can also still accrue annual leave while you’re on maternity leave. It’s worth contacting your employer if you’re unsure about how or when to use your holiday entitlement. Many expectant parents keep in regular contact with their respective management teams, keeping relationships strong and healthy throughout early parenthood.
Family routines
With a new baby in the house, getting ready for work will be very different.
Your morning now starts with care responsibilities, so make sure to leave yourself extra time for yourself too! It’s easy to neglect your own self-care needs, but you deserve to feel confident at work. Share the load if possible and try to be calm and patient through challenging moments.
You might need to make some changes to travel arrangements too, even if you and your co-parent or partner already have two vehicles. Choosing multi-car insurance could help to streamline your family admin, especially if you’ll be sharing the nursery run.
Considering returning part-time
If you’re having any doubts about returning to the work at the same pace, it could be worth asking your employer for flexible working hours. You can ask for this at any time – and it could mean switching from shifts to regular working patterns, changing your working days, or working from home.
Remember, your employer will understand that returning after a baby is hard! With the right support and communication throughout and after your pregnancy, you can return to work at your own pace and start the next chapter in your career.
Thank you for reading.
