Returning to work after parental leave can be a daunting experience for in-house lawyers. After being away for such a long time, when your perspective and priorities might have changed, it can be overwhelming to return to work.
When you are preparing to return after parental leave, there are a variety of things to consider. Ranging from when and how to come back, to balancing in-house lawyering with family life.
Recently, a bunch of in-house lawyers from the Crafty Counsel Community hosted a series of calls to discuss all things parental leave. These calls ranged from alternative routes to parenthood and telling your manager, to the return to work and juggling lawyering and parenting.
We’ve put together some of the takeaways from these Community calls to explore the key things for in-house lawyers to consider when returning to work after parental leave.
Don’t forget to check out part one where we share the key takeaways for in-house lawyers on how to prepare for parental leave.
When and how to come back from parental leave as an in-house lawyer
As shared in the first-part of this article series, you’ll never be able to predict how you’ll feel and how your priorities will change after becoming a parent. The number one tip from in-house lawyers in the Crafty Counsel Community was: don’t commit to a return date. Don’t feel pressure to come back too early.
Try not to feel pressure or guilt to return to the workplace. Our in-house legal community spoke about how it can be easy to fall into a trap of gratitude. In this trap, you can make decisions based on what’s best for your employer. However, the better scenario for both parties is that a date isn’t committed to, rather than committing to one and changing your mind later, or feeling pressured to return. Your employer cares about your wellbeing.
Try not to fall into this trap. When you return to work is a personal decision, with no right or wrong answer. Make decisions that are best for you and your family. Having a baby changes you – physically, mentally, and your priorities. Give yourself enough time to get used to the change before returning to work. To do this, make the most of everything available to you, such as keeping-in-touch (KIT) days and annual leave. Give yourself time to adjust to your new routine and the demands of lawyering and family life.
What will work be like when you return?
When you are ready to return to work, what will this actually look like? Take some time to ask yourself what you want your work life to look like now that you’re a parent. You may not feel ready to return full-time right away, or ever. You might need to work from home a few days a week, or build in more flexibility to your hours.
Hopefully, you will have discussed flexible working arrangements, such as part-time or compressed hours, before you went on parental leave. If you need changes to your working arrangements that reflect your changing priorities, speak to your manager about what is possible. If you’re able to demonstrate you can still perform your role effectively, your employer may be willing to accommodate these requests.
Now is the time to speak with your manager. Come up with a plan for your return that works for both yourself and your employer.
Before you start your return to work, think about the logistics in detail. Things that the in-house lawyers in our community recommend thinking about include:
- What do pick-ups and drop-offs look like?
- What support system do you have in place?
- What does the morning routine look like?
- Has your commute changed?
- Does your wardrobe reflect how you want to look (and feel) when you come back?
Think about all of these details in advance. They might seem small in isolation, but they add up. You want it to be as smooth as possible so think it through thoroughly, and even do a practice run where possible.
How to balance being an in-house lawyer and parent
One of the biggest challenges of returning to work after parental leave is balancing work and family life. It can also be an opportunity to create a work-life balance that works for you and your family.
Make sure to have perspective on what is achievable. You might have to bide your time before moving up and take things at your own pace. Self-care is super important. You aren’t the same person you were before becoming a parent and the juggling act is tough. In-house lawyers in our community emphasise looking after yourself and not to be fooled by others that you perceive to be thriving.
Tips for balancing lawyering and parenting
Some of the tips from our legal community on balancing lawyering and parenting include:
- Compartmentalise your family and legal life: “We don’t have to be plugged in all the time or feel that we need to feel guilty if we work instead of being with the family or if we are with the family instead of working. The secret is effective compartmentalization.”
- Lean into flexibility: “One good thing that came out of the pandemics is that we can now work remotely more easily. That flexibility means that we can be available for the kids during normal working hours and still deliver our work on time around childcare time.”
- People can’t read minds: “Communication with our partner and colleagues is key to establishing boundaries and to be able to share any burden fairly. This can mean delegating work effectively or relying on our partner to be with the kids when we have to focus on work. A common mistake is to believe that people know what we are juggling magically or don’t respect our time on purpose.”
Returning to work after parental leave can be tricky for in-house lawyers. There are many factors to consider like when and how to make the transition back and balancing work and family life. To ease the transition, it’s important to prioritise your wellbeing and manage expectations. Don’t hesitate to seek support from your employer, colleagues, and family to create a sustainable work-life balance. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey.
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