Returning to work after extended leave or post-parental leave and feeling a little daunted?

The thought of getting back to work after taking parental leave can be pretty exciting – but there’s no doubt it can be daunting, too.

No matter what you’re feeling, planning ahead can help you tackle any challenges and makes for a smoother journey.

Here are some tips and strategies to help you make your return to work as trouble-free as possible.

Keep in touch:

Planning ahead for your return to work before you take parental leave can set you up for a much smoother transition when the time comes.

Justine Alter is a psychologist and co-director at Transitioning Well, an agency specialising in support for parental leave, work-life, and mature age transitions. Alter says setting up a plan to communicate throughout leave is key.

“Discussing early with your manager, team, and HR a clear ‘keeping in touch’ strategy for while you’re on leave will help you to navigate your way through this unique and often challenging transition,” she says.

According to Alter, most people aren’t aware that they can use up to 10 days of paid ‘keeping in touch days. Employees on unpaid parental leave are entitled to take these days to go back to work so they can stay up to date with their workplace, refresh their skills and assist their return to work.

Alter recommends using your keeping-in-touch days to attend planning days or meetings that will help you stay connected and on top of what’s happening in the workplace.

Think ahead about flexible working arrangements:

If you’re planning to request flexible working arrangements when you return, you’ll need to put this in writing, Alter says.

By law your organisation needs to respond to your request in writing within 21 days, she says, adding that Fair Work Ombudsman resources can help you establish what your workplace entitlements are.

Alter says it’s a good idea to lock in flexible working arrangements in writing before going on leave as managers and roles could change during your absence.

“Many people find themselves in the tricky situation of having negotiated a flexible working arrangement verbally with their manager only to find that whilst they were on leave things changed and their intentions could no longer be honoured,” she says.

Be kind to yourself:

Remember, any transition in life takes time.

“You may not feel like your old self when you return to work after parental leave,” Alter says. “It may take time for your confidence to return and for your neurons to fire up! Making the time and space to have some ‘me’ time is really important to keep your life balanced when you return to work after parental leave.”