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.
- Consider seeking coaching, peer mentoring support on your return to work. Medics can find information on the MED Peer Mentoring page, and non-medics can find information on the OD Coaching and Mentoring intranet page. If you’re an AHP, your line manager should be able to give you information about preceptorship. The Women’s Network is working on a peer mentoring programme similar to the MED programme to provide additional support for non-medics returning from maternity leave.
- 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.
- Consider encouraging mentorship or preceptorship. There is a preceptorship programme for AHPs which you can find out more about on our Tools and links page.
- 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.
