Six things to know before returning from your Maternity Leave

Returning to work from maternity leave, if not planned well,  can turn out to be a very stressful period. Firstly, according to GOV.UK the statutory Maternity Leave is 52 weeks and it consists of:

• Ordinary Maternity Leave: first 26 weeks
• Additional Maternity Leave: last 26 weeks
• Two weeks’ leave after your baby is born (or 4 weeks if you work in a factory)

Pregnant employees have 4 main legal rights:

• paid time off for antenatal care
• maternity leave
• maternity pay or maternity allowance
• protection against unfair treatment, discrimination or dismissal

Bear in mind that employers in the UK cannot change a pregnant employee’s contract terms and conditions without agreement, and if this happens, they are in breach of contract.

When returning to work after having a baby, most mothers have natural conflicting emotions such as: sadness, anxiety, anger, fear, relief, joy, excitement. It is all about trying the best you can and relying on your family, friends, co-workers and professionals who can help improve this transition period. Now you are not only a working woman, you have become a working mother.

Here are 6 things that will help you return to work from your Maternity Leave and feel more confident about your new motherhood situation:

• Get used to your new routine in terms of logistics
• If you feel comfortable with it, bring your baby to your place of work before you start work again
• Return to work gradually if possible
• Consider working from home if possible
• Other mothers can provide support
• Never quit your job: be patient and celebrate small successes in the first transition period

It is important to remind yourself that you are bringing back to the job a whole new set of skills, for example, being able to multitask. It is all about handling this transition period with patience, grace and with a positive attitude.

Read some of our blog posts dedicated to women and their careers to help you feel more empowered.