When I returned to work after my first daughter the transition was a lot greater than I thought. I took a more junior role, a huge pay cut and suffered with intense feelings of guilt that my daughter was in daycare for days that were far too long for both of us. I didn’t receive any support transitioning back into the workforce and I was overwhelmed and torn between wanting to be a great mum and wanting to develop my career.  

I want to delve into the importance of providing adequate support for new parents returning to work and how it can redefine the purpose of parenthood in the workplace. Not only will this benefit your employee’s but as parents make up around 50% of our workforces, this can help to prevent turn over, and provide an increase in performance and results.

Embracing Change: Are You Providing Adequate Support?

When a baby enters the picture, the dynamics of our lives shift dramatically. As parents return to work, they face a multitude of changes in their professional and personal lives. Employers must acknowledge and address these changes by offering support systems that cater to the evolving needs of parent employees.

Flexible work arrangements and childcare assistance is an essential start to providing the support that is needed, but should we be stopping there? Providing support to new parents demonstrates an understanding of their challenges and a commitment to helping them navigate this significant life transition. Providing them with the tools they need to redefine what this transition in their life now looks like, what their purpose is now and what they need to make their career work for them and their family, is a large missing piece of the puzzle.

Redefining Career Priorities: Beyond the Nine-to-Five

Parenthood often prompts a re-evaluation of career priorities. Returning to work doesn’t mean reverting to the same roles and responsibilities as before. Parents may find that their priorities have shifted, and certain aspects of their previous roles are no longer feasible or desirable.

Employers can empower parents to redefine their career paths by offering opportunities for skill development, career advancement, and alternative work arrangements that accommodate their new roles as caregivers. Parents also need to have this awareness to receive adequate support from their employer.

Coping with Change: Providing Support and Tools

Parenthood is synonymous with change, and parents must continuously adapt to the evolving needs of their children. Employers can support their parent employees by providing resources, such as parenting workshops, and flexible scheduling options, to help them cope with these changes effectively. The greatest gift employers can give is providing tools to make permanent shifts and changes to parents thoughts and behaviours. 80% of our outcomes are based on our mindset and as humans the ability to change, have the confidence to speak up for what we want and need and how to push ourselves out of our comfort zone can make a dramatic difference in the performance and wellbeing of parents.

By investing in the well-being of parent employees, organisations foster a supportive work environment that promotes productivity, satisfaction, and retention.

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone: Working Smarter, Not Harder

Returning to work after parental leave often requires stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new challenges. Encouraging parents to adopt a growth mindset and explore innovative approaches to work can enhance their confidence and resilience.

Employers can foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development, where employees are encouraged to take risks, learn from failures, and adapt to change with resilience and determination.

Supporting new parents as they transition back to work is not only a matter of employee welfare but also a strategic investment in organisational success. By offering tailored support, resources, and opportunities for growth, employers can empower parent employees to thrive professionally and personally, ultimately redefining the purpose of parenthood in the workplace. Let’s strive to create workplaces where parents feel valued, supported, and able to achieve their full potential. If you would like to discuss this with myself and how I can support your organisation please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I am one of 3 girls, and we have all married really “hands on” men. They all help around the house and share the childcare. Before you all get too excited reading this- there is always room for improvement, but on the whole all 3 of them are really great, especially with sharing the childcare and being very involved dads. During this conversation, my sister said something that has really got me thinking.

“Well, if you think back, Dad was really present with us, he did quite a lot around the house and he shared the childcare….”

This is SO true.

My Dad was a teacher, so he was home by 4.30pm every day. We always had dinner all together, mum cooked, dad always did the dishes, they had their “roles” in the house with regards to jobs and it was by no means 50/50 but my dad still did quite a lot to help.

In the school holidays, my mum only had 50% of the holiday off so we would spend the rest of the holiday with Dad. He would play squash and would assign my sister and I a task to build something or find something from the rugby fields behind, he would play golf and we would Cady for him and find golf balls. We LOVED it!

My point to this is this. Did we all marry similar hands-on men out of pure coincidence, or did we marry men like that because that’s what we were raised to believe is normal?

I hope the latter….

I have been thinking and writing a lot about gender equality and I hadn’t even though about my own situation. I know I am very lucky with my own husband, but I hadn’t thought about my own parents. I am SO Grateful that I was raised in such an equal house. And in that generation, I think it would still have been quite rare for that to happen. My dad has always had a great relationship with my sisters and I and it’s all thanks to the time he spent with us. When I look back at my childhood, I don’t remember the birthday or Christmas presents, I don’t remember what we had and what we didn’t have. What sticks in my mind are all the great times I had with my family. The time spent with my mum after school talking to her whilst I helped cook dinner, time in the school holidays when we went on fin adventures with Dad. Time is the most precious gift you can give you children as a parent.

Our Belief systems are built up from generations, our parents, their parents etc. it is really the catalyst of why we think and behave the way that we do. I feel so incredibly fortunate that I have been raised in a way that promotes gender equality and I now live exactly like that myself which will enable my children to be the same way.

If we really want to bridge the Gender gap- this is where we start! Women need to have the confidence to speak up with what they want and need at home and at work. And men need to continue to do more to help at home and with their children, and workplaces need to fully support this.

I read something yesterday written by a mother. She was saying how she runs around in the morning, getting the kids up, washed, dressed, breakfast, lunches ready etc. And then by the time her husband comes out ready for the day showered and dressed she had about 8 minutes to get ready herself. The post annoyed me. Why is her husband not doing half of those jobs and helping her out? Their children belong to both of them and should be both of their responsibilities. If she’s struggling with time in the mornings, why is she not asking her husband to help? This is where the problems start.

Ladies please start speaking up for what you want and need in terms of help and support. If you create this equality in your house now, just think of the effects that will have on your children, and their children… it’s up to us to make that change and to bridge the gender gap. It’s also up to men to allow the transition to occur. To be open to changing the status quo and enabling more balance to spend with your children and supporting your family at home. I will be forever grateful that I was raised in a family dynamic that has naturally created equality in my own house. You have the ability to give that gift to your children as well.