For employees
- Talk to your manager early about your return — including things like childcare, reduction in hours, and support needs.
- It’s okay if you don’t feel 100% confident right away — many people feel this way.
- Ask about flexible working if it would help.
- If you are continuing to breastfeed, your line manager should give you information about breastfeeding facilities and allow breaks for expressing and rest.
- Think about using any unused leave for a phased return to ease back into work.
- Connect with support groups or other parents at work — you’re not alone.
- Don’t be hard on yourself. Returning to work can be a scary experience and it will take time to adjust being back at work and balancing work and home. If you need support, you can find in-house resources on our Support page or get external support from Perinatal and Infant Mental Health fund or Parent Club.
Returning from leave checklist for staff
For managers
- If not done during leave, ensure your team member’s return date has been updated in eESS.
- Make time for a proper return conversation on your team member’s 1st day back — ask what support they need. If you can’t be there on their 1st day, ask another colleague to meet them.
- Introduce the returning team member to new members of staff and ensure they know where to sit, who to report to, and any other changes to the working environment.
- Discuss any significant updates that have happened in their absence and share key documentation to help familiarise them with any changes to processes and procedures.
- Offer flexibility where possible and be open to adjustments.
- Complete any necessary risk assessments e.g. around breastfeeding.
- Tell your employees where any breastfeeding rooms are and allow them time to express and rest. Room information, including milk storage, should be available through your local Work Well Facilitator.
- Be patient — returning to work isn’t easy and it can take time to settle back in. Be considerate that the employee is adjusting to a new pattern, being back at work with potentially disrupted sleep.
- Ensure your team member knows the process to be followed in the case of children’s illness or injury – how to report this and how it will be recorded.
- Ensure your team member is familiar with the parental leave policy and their entitlement to leave.
- Celebrate their return and help them feel valued and included.
