5 Tips To Return To Work After A Parental Leave!

Getting back to work after an extended parental leave can be challenging. Individuals usually struggle to get back to their work schedules after having a baby, as they're already overwhelmed with the responsibilities of a child. So even though a return date might look pretty practical on paper, it's exceptionally taxing to resume. With a female-intensive workforce at See & Recruit, we make it a point to stay constantly in touch with our employees on parental leave. Our HR ensures clarity in communication to avoid any last-minute hiccups and is doing a fabulous job at it. Hence, the critical point from the employee's perspective is that one needs to prepare well in advance for a comeback. Check out the list of things you must do for a smooth transition.

• Talk To Your HR & Boss: Start by emailing the HR & Boss regarding setting up a meeting before joining. During that meeting, understand what you missed during the break and what is expected of you now. Give yourself time to adapt to the new changes, and don’t be hard on yourself. Try to reconnect with acquaintances and colleagues. You should know what’s been happening in the office in your absence and how to pace up with everything.
• Ask For Flexible Timings: With infants, you have to be extra careful as they might need you suddenly; hence discussing possibilities of flexible working hours is something you must consult with your manager. Please do this before resuming as it will give a clear picture to the management and won’t keep them under any surprises. However, ensure that your work will be on-point, wherein no complaints will arise.
• Fix A Return Date:Ensure to block a return date, as it gives more clarity in terms of your work schedule. Ideally, pick a date that falls on a Wednesday or Thursday!This is because starting your week on a Monday might feel too demanding. Eventually, by the weekend, you will experience a feeling of anguish so great that it can make you feel threatened to be engulfed by it as you are required to catch up on so many things.
• Let The Child Care Plan Be In Place: If an immediate family member is not there to care for the child, opting for a childcare facility with a live CCTV option or a nanny is feasible. Although with childcare or nannies, you must analyze the baby’s comfort first. Make a detailed document about the baby and hand it over to them. E.g., allergies list, baby likes and dislikes, sharing a contact list of all parents & guardians. Backups are also significant in case of emergencies. 
• Be Prepared To Be Overwhelmed: At first, you feel very worked up while juggling work and home. As nurturing an infant is difficult, the child depends entirely on you for everything. Hence, there will be times at work when you’ll feel like returning to your kid but those are testing times. So, hold your ground strong, and prioritize your work when in the office and your child at home.