9
How to Transition Back After Parental Leave
by Rebecca Knight
Quick Takes
- Resist taking your emotional temperature too early in your return
- Make your schedule as predictable as possible, but prepare for the unexpected
- Seek out support and encouragement from other parents at work
- Do practice runs with your caregiver
- Ask for flexibility if it will help you do your job better
- Don’t assume that you will be the same professional you were before you became a parent
Transitioning back to work after parental leave is hard. You’ve been out of the flow of the office for weeks or months, and you’re returning as a different person with new priorities and concerns (not to mention the stress and strain of endless new logistics). It’s jarring and often ...
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