Like all good things in life, maternity (or paternity) leave eventually comes to an end, and you have to go back to work.
However, there are ways to make the transition back to full-time work easier, including timing your return right with one or both of the two tactics that make up today’s hint.
1. Go back to work during a quiet holiday week. Certain holiday weeks (think July 4th week, the week before Labor Day, and the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, to name a few), are notoriously quiet at most offices. So, if going back to work during a holiday week is an option for you (this depends on the time of year your baby is born, of course) you may want to consider it.
By returning from leave during a quiet week, you’ll be able to adjust and catch up on emails before you really have to jump right into the busy daily grind, and an added bonus of returning during a holiday week is that you’ll likely get an extra day off during that first week. For instance, I returned to work on December 31st to an empty office, and I was able to spend that first day catching up on email and readjusting to office life. Then, the next day was January 1st and I didn’t have to go to work.
2. Go back to work mid-week or later in the week. I learned this great tip from a coworker in human resources who helped me plan my maternity leave. The idea is that by going back to work on a Wednesday or Thursday, you minimize the time you’re away from your baby that first week, and enable both you and your baby to ease into the new routine.
Other proponents of this approach include The (Reformed) Idealist Mom, moms commenting over at the site Rookie Moms, the Mayo Clinic, Ellen Schmidt of Baby Meets City and Katherine Lewis of About.com Working Moms.
What are your tips for timing the return to work, and for returning to work in general, after maternity or paternity leave?
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Great post. I’m a teacher, and had my son late August. I took off 12 weeks, and came back the day after Thanksgiving…I was in school three weeks, and then had a two week Christmas break! It was the perfect transition back.
Thanks Olivia! That sounds like a great way to go back to work (or as great as going back to work can be…..).