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Back to SearchWill working three days a week be too much? Will my manager be ok with me working two days a week from home? Returning from parental leave can raise many questions and we don’t have all the answers – but we do have some tips from Zoe Jellie, Senior Botanist, and Janette Pelayo, Marketing & Events Manager, on what works for them.
1. C is for Communicate
Start discussions with your manager as early as possible to set clear expectations, share your plans and suggest a trial period if there is any resistance.
2. It’s ok to say no
Saying yes might seem like a good way to stay relevant and to show that you’re still hard-working or ambitious – but the reality is that you just can’t do everything. It is important to set boundaries and focus on prioritising your workload to achieve the right balance.
3. Be flexible (and trust others to be supportive)
Once you have a child, you can lose a bit of control in parts of your life. You can have all the plans in the world, client meetings and deadlines, but then your child gets sick and you have to ‘drop and run’ to pick them up. Being open and explaining a new deadline or meeting time upfront means that people don’t feel let down – and they’re just happy that you took the time to update them.
4. Accept that things are different
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to work in the same way you did before taking parental leave. You may now spend less hours in the office than you used to, but you can work out ways to be more efficient, to prioritise your work and delegate tasks.
5. Have you seen the baby?
Drop into the office to show off your new baby, or even on your own for coffee catch-ups. Keeping in touch with your team and manager during your parental leave will help you feel like you are still part of the team.
6. Plan childcare early
Talk to other parents and do your research on the best childcare options for you. Once you start childcare, build a good rapport with the primary carers, this will help you to feel more at ease after morning drop off.
7. Have a ‘sick child’ back-up plan
Children seem to get sick every second week, especially in their first year. It’s a good idea to decide what you’ll do if you need to keep your child home from childcare or you need to stay home to care for them.
8. Family routines are important
If you need to leave by a certain time each day, aim to do that from the beginning – be open and transparent with your manager and set expectations. Each day is about balance, so, if you can do that extra time from home after bedtime stories then you have found a solution that works for everyone.
9. Build a supportive network
It’s incredibly helpful to have people in your life that you can talk to when the world is throwing you lemons (or when your toddler is throwing mashed potato at the wall). A network of new parents with children at the same age can understand your situation and share their tips towards a happy and sustainable work-life balance.
10. Everyone needs a bit of ‘me time’
Make time to regularly do what you enjoy, this helps to reduce stress associated with the extra time pressures of parenting and paid work.
About Zoe Jellie
Zoe started with GHD in 2008 and she hasn’t looked back. She recently returned from parental leave and feels supported to be a mum, work part-time and to succeed as a Senior Botanist. Zoe loves the diversity of her work, being part of GHD’s Women in GHD steering committee and the people she works with, whom she can call real friends and not just colleagues. Working with such a great team makes it easy for Zoe to come in to work each day and be herself. Connect with Zoe on LinkedIn here.
About Janette Pelayo
Having spent most of her career at GHD, it’s like Janette has grown up here. Janette has met super talented people and some incredible clients – many who she also now calls her friends. Through the demands of managing major events and raising a young daughter, she has established a flexible working arrangement that works for her, her family and her team. GHD relies heavily on client relationships and Janette loves the challenge of giving our people great platforms to be able to facilitate their relationship building. Connect with Janette on LinkedIn here.
GHD’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is embodied within our strategy and includes: championing gender equality, cultural diversity, LGBTI inclusion, adapting work practices to capture the benefits of generational diversity, reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as flexible working arrangements for our people.
