SUCCESSFULLY COMBINE YOUR LIFE AS A PARENT WITH YOUR JOB

It’s never easy returning to work after caring for a new baby. Even if you’re ready to go back, leaving your child in somebody else’s hands is emotionally tough, not to mention the challenge of slotting back into your team after a long period away. This guide will help you cope with the daunting time of returning from parental leave.

YOU’RE NOT THE FIRST TO BALANCE RAISING CHILDREN WITH A CAREER

Plenty of people have done it before and in fact 80% of employees are parents. That’s not to say it won’t be difficult but you’re not in unchartered territory. Many people juggle successful careers with successful parenting.

In fact there are probably other new parents in your workplace, who you can connect with. But don’t start comparing yourself – there’s no best way to work once you are a parent. Everyone has their own unique circumstances to deal with.

UNFORTUNATELY IT’S STILL A LOT TOUGHER ON WOMEN

Census data from the developed world confirms that women are, in most cases, still in charge of managing the household. Taking Australia as an example shows that 84% of women who return to work do so part-time and female participation in the workforce is around 59%, which is low by global standards.

This has a huge impact on a woman’s career prospects. Because many women return part time – almost three quarters of part-time workers in Australia are women – they are more likely to be unconsciously discriminated against when it comes to promotions and feel undervalued. Because of the cost of childcare, and the fact many part-time salaries won’t cover it, mums may actually be paying to go back to work for the benefit of their long-term career.

Often parents who have been given the opportunity to work part time find that, in reality, they’re doing their old full time job, in less time and for less pay. This is particularly demoralizing if they see once junior colleagues who do not have children, soaring past them.

There are other financial implications too. For example, women have significantly less retirement savings than men when they become pensioners because they’ve usually spent less time in paid employment. This has wider ramifications for the economy which then has to support them.

Mums also tend to return to work in jobs they are overqualified for, to get the flexibility they need. This means lots of women aren’t making the most of their talents and, as a consequence, the economy isn’t either.

So, it’s not surprising many new parents simply chuck it all in and decide to be stay-at-home mums or dads.

DON’T LET MUMMY GUILT GET YOU DOWN

You’re probably going to feel bad, but it will get easier and it’s worth knowing that working mums aren’t just good for a country’s economy, they’re good for its kids too.

How? Recent research by Harvard Business School found that working mums are the single biggest factor in reducing gender inequality in the workplace. Also, boys raised in a household where the mother works, even just a little, are more likely to contribute to household chores and spend more time caring for family members when they are older.

The benefits are even more profound for girls. Those raised in a household where their mother works are more than likely than daughters of stay-at-home mothers to hold managerial roles and earn higher salaries when they enter the workforce.

For many parents returning to work is a financial necessity. But if you have a choice make sure you find an arrangement that works for you at least 80% of the time in terms of costs, logistics and your emotional wellbeing.

FINDING ANOTHER WAY TO WORK

Some parents find returning to their former role impossible. Either the practicalities of juggling their job and childcare are too tricky, or the bias they suffer because they chose to stay at home is damaging their careers and making them unhappy.

That’s why many look for more flexible careers paths, turning to freelancing and the gig economy. Rather than opting out of the workforce completely while raising a family it gives parents the ability to work around the needs of their children and their school or day care schedules, they may even be able to avoid day care altogether. It also ensures there isn’t a career gap on their resume if they decide to return to an employer.

Of course, there are downsides to freelancing such as income security, which can cause even more stress if you have children. Read guide Freelancing – living the dream or your worst nightmare to learn more.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR RETURN

There may never be a right time to go back to work. Your values, priorities and identity are likely to have shifted. Not to mention the fact a new baby will leave you feeling tired and frazzled.

But the skills and capabilities that got you to where you are will re-emerge once you’re in the workplace and interacting with adults again. You’ll also find that parenting has improved your professional skills: multi-tasking is now second nature, your time management is sharper and you’re more productive because you have to pick the kids up at 4.30pm. Don’t forget how much you have to offer.

Still there are ways to smooth your return to the workplace:

• Keep in touch with your area of expertise. Spending just five minutes going through Linkedin updates each day and getting up to speed on people and industry developments will serve you well.
• Share drop offs and pick ups. If you have a partner, share the load equally as much as possible. Have this discussion and sort your childcare arrangements as far in advance as possible.
• Practice leaving the house. This may sound silly, but getting out of the door in time to fit in a nursery drop off before work, when you have to feed and dress a baby as well as yourself is hard. And it gets even harder when they become toddlers who refuse to wear anything but a Spiderman outfit. A few trial runs will help you work out what you need to change about your morning routine.
• Prepare to take time off. Babies get ill, especially when they start swapping germs at day care. So plan with your employer, childcare provider, partner and any back up babysitters what you will do. A good employer will understand that it is an unavoidable fact of life.
• Reconnect with colleagues and your manager before your first day back. Find out what has been happening, what’s changed in the office, who’s arrived and who’s left. It will make you feel less like an intern when you return.
• Consider returning in the second half of the week to ease your transition back rather than going in at the deep end of a full working week.
• Talk to HR before you return about practicalities such breast-feeding so that arrangements can be made for you to pump and store milk, if they don’t already exist. Once back, block out time in your diary so you are not disturbed or rushed while pumping.
• Be ready for emotions on your first day away from your baby. These are totally normal, everyone will understand and it will get easier. You’ll be ok and so will your baby, in fact they may thrive in day care.

WHAT TO CONSIDER IF YOU DECIDE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE

Looking for a new job as a new parent can be daunting. Here are some things to consider:

• Take a step sidewaysto get in the door somewhere new if you have to.
• Network rather than rely on adverts. You are more likely to find a job with someone you have worked with, or for, who knows what you can do.
• Consider temping or contractingto build up your experience without having to commit to an employer. Also, as we’ve mentioned, consider freelancing if it fits with your skill set.
• Even if you want a part-time role, still apply for full-time jobs. If a company wants you, they may consider flexible options, but they won’t know they want you if you don’t apply.
• Flexibility doesn’t necessarily mean part-time.Remote working, a compressed working week, staggered start and finish times and job sharing are all options. But make sure you have a business case prepared to show them how you’ll make it work.

However, perhaps the most important thing to remember is to cut yourself some slack. Holding down a job and bringing up children isn’t easy. There’ll be tough times and you and your employer will have to make compromises, but you should be proud of yourself.

FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER:

1. Find an arrangement that works for you 80% of the time.
2. Remember you have a lot of enhanced skills to offer.
3. Establish a good support network and keep perspective.
4. Have contingency plans for when your child is sick.
5. Reconnect with colleagues and your manager before your first day.