May 4th 2022
Many parents who are on maternity leave (or paternity leave) can often feel isolated or shut off from the world of work. Over time, this can conjure up difficult feelings which can impact their return to the office. Feelings of inadequacy or forgetting how good at their job they used to be. Luckily, these feelings don’t last too long, and staying connected to work whilst being away is actually much easier than you think.
We’re here to help you understand that it’s okay to feel a little disconnected and show you what steps you can take to keep on top of your game, even whilst on maternity leave.
1. KIT Days – What Are They and How Can You Use Them?
KIT days (also known as ‘Keeping in Touch’ days) are available to those on maternity leave, which allow them to return to the office on certain days to touch base and get caught up in all the things they’ve been missing so far. These days can be utilised a few weeks into maternity leave and are a fantastic way to never be completely out of the loop in work matters.
On these days, you should be able to attend training sessions and conferences, hold meetings with your team to get caught up, or even simply just be present in the office for a sense of normalcy.
These days aren’t necessarily a common thing, and they’re certainly not forced on new parents who may just want to use the time to bond with their new child, but they do help to make phasing back into work later down the line a much easier task to manage. You can spread these days across multiple weeks to keep an ear to the ground at work, and they can be customised specifically for you, and what you’re feeling up to doing.
2. Stay Close to Industry Updates and News
A fantastic way to feel included while you’re on maternity leave is to keep on top of any updates and breaking news within your industry. It will not only give you plenty to talk to your colleagues about when you eventually return to work, but you’ll also be clued-up on potential directions the industry (or your company) may take in the near future.
Staying ‘connected’ should be taken literally too. If you have a spare 10 minutes, why not look up a reputable source on your phone and read the latest industry news or company bulletin. This will help you to feel connected to your work, and you even may learn of something that you’ll need to report to your team upon returning!
3. Training and Refreshing Your Skills
Being away from work doesn’t mean the opportunities to learn and grow have to stop. There will no doubt be many courses which you can take to refresh any knowledge you fear to lose during your time away. You can also use the previously mentioned ‘KIT Days’ to attend in-person training sessions at work to help keep you up to date with your skills. Taking these courses can also give you a sense of work life balance, as you don’t feel completed disconnected from your professional life.
Simply taking some light online courses would even be enough to keep your abilities sharp until you inevitably need to return to the office. And when you do return, it’s likely that they’re going to need you up-to-speed as fast as possible, which you will be if you’ve been refreshing your knowledge throughout your maternity leave anyway!
4. Stay in Touch with Work – Check Your Inbox!
This point sounds a little obvious, but many workplaces now use some form of instant messaging platform, such as Slack, to help their employees stay connected all day. Why not ask your boss if you’re able to be present and online on these platforms to keep an eye on what’s going on at work? You may even be commended for your dedication!
As well as this, you should regularly check your email inbox, as there could be a thread that you’ve been CC’d into which can help keep you up to date with work goings on too. You shouldn’t feel the need to always reply or be involved in these conversations, but as long as you’ve being kept in the loop, it’ll help you feel more connected to work and less isolated.
LinkedIn and Facebook business groups/networks are great resources to connect with colleagues too, so never underestimate the power of social media!
5. Phase Out Your Return to Work
Whilst some people may come to the end of their maternity leave and jump straight back into full-time work in the office, this isn’t the only approach that you can take. Why not consider a phased return to work, where over time you familiarise yourself with the working environment again? You can plan this for a month or two before your return fully, being in-office a couple days a week, giving you time to adjust to juggling home life, parenthood and working again.
You can request reduced hours during these days, so you don’t feel overwhelmed, as being a full-time parent and suddenly jumping back into the world of work can be a bit of a shock to the system for some. Not to mention that your baby is going to have to adjust to the new normal too.
6. Join the Parent Club at Work
If you’re working for a bigger company, with many employees, it’s likely that there is some form of ‘parent club’ or a network of parents that are going through exactly what you are going through. These groups and networks are fantastic ways to keep in touch with other likeminded parents and can be a fount of knowledge for new Mums and Dads who just need a bit of advice.
The vast amount of information readily available to you in these groups could really help you navigate the uncertain waters of new parenthood, as well as keep you informed on what’s happening in the company as a whole. They’ll also help you understand that you’re not alone, and there are people in your company that understand you and your situation.
As you can see, there’s a multitude of ways in which you can stay connected to work whilst on maternity leave. Some new parents decide to dedicate all of their time for their new baby, which is absolutely fine, but for those of you out there who yearn to stay linked and involved with work, we hope you’ve taken something away from this today.
If you’re a new parent who is choosing to spend some time in an office, why not check out our exciting hot desking opportunities near you, to give you that ‘office away from the office’ feeling.
If you’re a business owner who simply needs more office space (or an incredible office overhaul), head over and check out our serviced offices and our managed office spaces to see what we have available for you today!
