Читать книгу The Parental Leave Playbook - Sue Campbell - Страница 14

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) go smoothly.

When you walk through those doors your first day back, you are able to breeze past any security because you have been proactively reactivated in the system. Your manager and colleagues have made a special effort to greet you with big smiles, and everyone wants to see more pictures of your new cutie pie. Your desk and IT access are set up flawlessly. A bouquet or a small plant welcomes you. When you sink into your chair you are able to soak in how much you were missed and how much your team values you. Even if you haven't been completely confident in yourself since you've been away, they are.

Notice how you felt imagining that future. Were your reactions unexpected? Did you feel hopefulness, pessimism, or something else? Did this feel like a possible future for you? Did you laugh at the idea? How did your body feel while you were visualizing this future? Were you tense or relaxed?

Now imagine if every new working parent was supported this way and was able to build their new family on a foundation consciously crafted without stress or shame, whether they were going back to work in an office, a restaurant, construction, their own business, or any kind of workplace. Think how strong our society would be.

This rosy future does not need to be hypothetical. Let's claim it as yours. Just as expecting parents take birthing classes to understand and handle the challenges of labor, I will help you understand the basics of the parental leave transition so you can better prepare yourself, practically and emotionally, for your transition into life as a working parent.

In this book we are going to lead you into your exciting new role and help you integrate it with your career plans and ambitions. With the right tools and support, I have seen (and helped) countless people do it well. Following the principles I'll outline in the following chapters, you will be able to maximize the upsides of your transition, sidestep pitfalls, and guide yourself and those around you through the rocky patches. You will have an easier time handing off your work, enjoy better communication with your boss and coworkers, gain more support at home, turn more thoughtful attention to the bonding experience of your family, and enjoy a smoother transition and adjustment back to work.

You will also be well positioned to use what you have learned to educate and inspire those around you on how to approach parental leave, paving the way for parents who come after you to have an even better experience. When working parents are given the support they need to thrive, we improve society and our companies at every level. Making sure you get that support lays the foundation for that progress.

Before we continue, let's get clear on some definitions.