The Parental Leave Playbook

Chapter OneParental Leave Is a Mess—Let's Fix It!

TAKE A MOMENT and imagine your ideal parental leave experience. What would it be like to have ample time at home with your new child and receive your full paycheck the whole time? How would it feel if your manager, HR representatives, and work colleagues were thoroughly trained and given all the resources they might need to guide you? What if there was clarity in how to best hand off your work and to whom, what paperwork you needed and when, and how much time you could take off?

Imagine your team throwing you a celebratory send-off that gave you just the right amount of attention, in ways that remind you that they know and care for you as you embark on parental leave to welcome your new child. And what if it didn't stop there? What if when your child arrives, your team sends you a basket full of useful new essentials, and some of those really cute stylish items you had been eyeing but weren't going to splurge on. There is even a matching t-shirt and onesie set with your work logo, and the back of yours reads Promoted to Parent!

During your leave, they know just how and when to check in and what news you want to be kept in the loop on so that you can let go of the mental load of work to completely immerse yourself in getting to know your child. When it is time to turn your attention back to work, they reach out to check if any of your return plans need to be adjusted and ask what they can do to make your first week (and beyond) ...