This article details resources and tips for making returning to work easier for staff.
What needs to be planned for before your employee returns to work?
Becoming a parent is a life changing experience and many employees find that their life needs and career goals shift and change during this time. Staying in touch can ensure that your employee and you are better planned for their return.
Planning and communication is critical for both the employee and employer. The better connected you are with your employee the more likely you will both experience a smoother transition for the employee back to into work.
What are some tips to make the return to work easier?
To ensure you feel confident with every step of the parental leave journey, below are some tips for managers to consider which look at what should happen before your employee goes on leave, whilst they are on leave and during their return to work.
Before commencing on parental leave:
- Consult with your employee and seek input on how their job can be performed while they are on leave.
- Agree how your employee wants to stay in touch with the person providing temporary relief in their role, e.g. monthly phone check-ins, emails.
- Review your employee’s performance and career goals with them. Discuss what your employee would like to continue doing and learning on their return.
- Summarise how you will stay in touch with your employee in an email for them.
- Where possible set your employee up so they can access emails during their leave.
During parental leave:
- Keep your employee connected to ensure they are up to date on key changes in their role and your employer
- Invite your employee in for significant social gatherings with the team.
- 3 months prior to the employee’s return set time up with them to:
- Provide an update on changes and developments within the team and your employer.
- Discuss if the employee wants to return to their previous role or explore alternative options.
- Set a time to discuss your employee’s thoughts on their return to work and the support they will need.
- If the employee would like to return to work under a flexible work arrangement, ask the employee to outline how they propose the flexible work arrangement would work and to highlight any positives and potential issues that might need addressing.
- Connect your employee with other parents within your employer to enable them to gain insights and learning on how others have they managed their return to work.
After parental leave:
- Consider a gradual return to work for your employee to give them time to settle in.
- Recognise it takes time for your employee to reorientate and get up to speed. It can take between 3 to 6 months to find a new rhythm that works in balancing life changes and work.
- Recognise that your employee may not be able to attend every meeting and work event. Ensure you take on the role to bring your employee up to speed later or suggest the employee dial in from home if appropriate.
- Revisit your employee’s career aspirations every 12 months to ensure you are across changes in their thinking.
- Consider flexible working options and adjust as required either for your employee or your team to ensure it is working.