Maternitypaternity Leave Planning Ahead
When planning for your maternity/paternity leave it is best to be as upfront with your employer as possible to afford the most time available to prepare both yourself and your employer for your upcoming maternity/paternity leave. As soon as you discover you are pregnant it would be to your advantage to advise your employer both in person and by letter. Be sure to research your sick day options as you are more than likely going to have to use some both for doctor appointments as well as those days you are not able to make it in. A review of your company's maternity/paternity leave policy should be done as soon as possible so as you are not caught unaware.
You may also wish to research if the company affords daycare. If this is not available you will want to begin the search for daycare as soon as possible for there may be a waiting list. You will want to research daycare very thoroughly for once you return to work the knowledge that your child is being taken care of by the most qualified person will make returning to work less stressful. You may also wish to discuss daycare options with other employees who are in the similar situation. If you work in a large company and daycare is not afforded you may wish to speak with the powers that be about the possibility of implementing same.
As your pregnancy proceeds it would be advisable to begin compiling a guide of what your job entails and how you manage your position. Forms that you use on a continual basis would be helpful as well as a list of people to contact should questions arise. Be sure each form contains the location on your computer for easy access. This guide will become invaluable for the substitute covering your position while you are on leave.
Depending on the company's guidelines suggest a substitute be brought in at least one month before your expected leave date. This will give you both adequate time to ease into the role with a minimum amount of effort. Be sure both your employer and your substitute are at ease with each other and assure them you will be only a phone call away.
Once your maternity/paternity leave begins be available via telephone and email and if possible check in at least once a week. Once your baby has been born there is nothing wrong with stopping by the office first to show off your new baby and then to check with the substitute to see how everything is going and offer assistance if needed.
Upon your return to the company once your maternity leave has expired you may want to request that the substitute and you work together for at least a week so you can be brought up to speed as to what you missed and if any changes were made to procedure while you were gone. It would be helpful if when you first return you can work part-time to ease yourself into the job as well as minimizing the stress of leaving your child at daycare.
It will take some time to adjust to working full time and being a full time mother but if your employer, daycare provider and you all work together it will be an easy transition.
