Maternity Depart Challenges for Managers: Sensible Approaches and Lesson Discovered | by Keren Koshman | Jun, 2023

Maternity go away in Israel usually lasts 3.5 months, however it may be prolonged to 6 months or perhaps a yr. As a mom of three boys, I’ve skilled this example a number of instances, every presenting its challenges. Essentially the most troublesome was taking go away from a managerial place, which is difficult no matter your organizational degree.

Not too long ago, I had the chance to talk with a number of managers who confronted the same drawback. They took prolonged maternity leaves of six months or extra and encountered difficulties upon their return. One supervisor discovered that her function had modified throughout her absence, leading to decreased tasks. One other needed to navigate an organizational change that considerably impacted her workforce. A 3rd supervisor found that her duties had been delegated to others in her absence, and the whole lot was working easily with out her, making it difficult to regain her earlier place.

All of the managers I spoke to believed their points have been private and remoted, however it’s a standard and comprehensible phenomenon from the group’s perspective. When a supervisor goes on an prolonged maternity go away, the managerial vacuum should be crammed for the group to perform successfully. The group should discover a answer; the longer the maternity go away (which is totally official), the extra established and practical the non permanent answer turns into. In different phrases, returning to the earlier place after prolonged maternity go away might be accompanied by difficulties, frustrations, and challenges.

The belief is that vacuums, particularly managerial ones, are likely to fill. Nobody will watch for you while you’re on maternity go away, and your workforce/division will transfer ahead. Generally, even higher. Sure, that’s the tough fact. One other onerous fact is it doesn’t matter what you select to do — you’ll be critisized. One other onerous fact is that you’ll be criticized it doesn’t matter what you select. It may be for being a awful mom prioritizing her profession over her kids or for not leaning in sufficient and slacking her profession for her kids. There’s a double customary today, and it’s good to have all of it, however you may’t, and society could have a say on that…

You’ve a number of decisions to organize for this drawback:

1. Proceed to handle the workforce throughout maternity go away. Bear in mind that it’s a very difficult answer. Those that select to take action are normally extremely senior managers or self-employed people who can’t afford to lose management over issues. Generally, they even shorten their maternity go away even additional. Malissa Mayer is an instance that pops into thoughts. I don’t choose this alternative, however I didn’t select it myself (I dont suppose it was possible). Please be sort to your self and think about the issues and the quantity of assist it’s good to accomplish this.
2. Taking the minimal maternity go away of three–4 months is a comparatively brief interval for the workforce to handle with a short lived answer that isn’t sufficiently established. It’s also fascinating to remain in touch with the corporate to make sure that crucial choices for the workforce are made along with your enter. For instance — if there are new hires on this interval, be a part of the hiring course of. I didn’t select this selection both. Every certainly one of my leaves was six months or extra.
3. Getting ready upfront a substitute from throughout the workforce who’s each competent sufficient and doesn’t want to exchange you completely. Sustaining contact throughout maternity go away is crucial to protect your function because the supervisor and assist crucial choices. This is a perfect answer, however such an acceptable substitute could solely typically be obtainable. This selection was my savior in certainly one of my leaves and had vital benefits, so long as the substitute is absolutely conscious of the scenario and there’s correct alignment on the substitute scope (for instance — which choices needs to be run by you on this interval).
4. Happening an prolonged maternity go away and returning to the earlier place, understanding what was earlier than will not be the identical anymore, and mentally getting ready your self to deal with the brand new scenario. If you wish to be left to your self to take a position your time in your new child absolutely, it’s your proper, however you need to clear this level along with your employer earlier than leaving.
5. Pre-negotiating with the corporate that you’ll not return to the earlier place however as an alternative tackle a brand new managerial function. It’s doable to debate upfront what the brand new function will entail or depend on the corporate to give you one thing to retain your providers. This answer is extra appropriate for bigger or rising firms however carries a sure threat that one other place could also be unavailable, leading to the necessity to go away.
6. Extending maternity go away for so long as desired after which searching for new employment.

Any mixture of the choices may be doable additionally, and there may be different inventive concepts that I ought to have considered. I encourage you to decide on in accordance with your values and keep away from the criticism. It doesn’t matter what, you’re the greatest mom on your youngster and can make one of the best resolution for your loved ones. Voice your place clearly to your group and sit down along with your supervisor to speak about your expectations out of your maternity go away.