Returning to Work: Plan For It When They’re Pregnant

There are many things a parent needs to consider when returning to work after a maternity/parental leave – childcare, breastfeeding, work hours, travel time, sick time … the list goes on.  The time to talk about these issues is before your employee leaves.  This will help prepare them for the upcoming transition to parenthood and eventual return to work.

Why is this important?

Research shows that employees who experience excessive work/family stress are:2

• absent more often1
• less satisfied
• less committed to their workplace
• at increased risk of depression and other mood disorders3
• at increased risk of alcohol and drug dependence

In parents with children aged 6 and under, burnout is common due to tension created by daycare-related difficulties.2 Implementing practices to balance work and family has proved to be a profitable investment for companies.2

Practices which provide a supportive environment include:
• Prior to maternity/parental leave, discuss options for transitioning back to work
• On-site provision of daycare facilities
• Counseling services (EAP) to support common transition to parenthood issues
• Provide an information package prior to leaving which includes in-house family friendly workplace policies, childcare and parenting resources

Employers could also develop family friendly policies such as:
• Compensation for overtime hours with leave time rather than pay
• Allowance for family sick time
• Flexible work schedule policies

Studies on flextime and compressed work week show that parents2:
• Coordinate their responsibilities better at and outside of work
• Are more satisfied with their work/family balance
• Perceive a positive impact on their relationship with their children

To start the conversation with your employees share Best Start’s new resource “Returning to Work After Baby.”

If you would like more information on this topic, please contact Joanne Enders, Region of Waterloo Public Health Nurse at 519-883-2006 ext.5232

References:
1. Public Health Agency of Canada, March 2004 “National Study on Balancing Work, Family and Lifestyle:  Report Three - Exploring the Link Between Work-Life Conflict and Demands on Canada's Health Care System”

2. VIF 2009 – Work/Family Balance: What do we Really Know?

3. Frone, M.R., 2000 “Work-Family Conflict and Employee Psychiatric Disorders:  The National Comorbidity Survey,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 85(6), pp. 688-695)
 

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