Have you ever really considered the emotional and psychological discomfort a mother experiences when returning to work for the very first time? During this time away she has undergone an incredible transformation, bringing life into this world, embracing the role of nurturer and caregiver, dedicating every ounce of energy, every waking moment to the growth, wisdom and love that comes with motherhood.
Don’t get me wrong, returning to work is undeniably exciting, the prospect of engaging in adult conversations and doing what you previously loved to do and excelled in before the relentless orbit of nursing, expressing, dirty nappies, ceaseless crying and the unrelenting sleep deprivation.
But beneath this exhilaration lies a mountain of emotions bursting inside. Loneliness tugs at our heartstrings as we peel ourselves away from our little ones we’ve nurtured for so long. Fear, anxiety and guilt for leaving them, worrying how they will cope without us. Then the pressure to perform while the feelings of insecurity and doubt have us questioning, will we still be as competent as we once were? Can we seamlessly juggle all the responsibilities of mumming and work?
This is a pivotal moment and opportunity where YOUR actions as the employer, can make all the difference in defining her experience. By creating a nurturing and inclusive environment, you can ensure that she not only fits but belongs and excels, and that her decision to return to work feels like the right choice between career and motherhood.
Nothing needs to be too difficult or overcomplicated but understanding these feelings can help craft the best experience and onboarding which will leave your new employee feeling like she belongs and that she has made the right decision to follow her career aspirations.
Have you considered offering:
- Reduced family friendly working hours during the first couple of weeks, to help with the adjustment for not only the mother returning to full time employment but also her babies who are transitioning to care.
- A carefully planned out onboarding schedule mixed with online learning, 1:1 interactions, team meetings and lunches, regular check-in’s and gentle reminders to stretch, take a break and “have a nice evening with your family and be sure to switch off”.
- If you have other working mothers within the company form introductions.
- Let her know that its ok to discuss her feelings or concerns with you and your door is always open if she needs anything.
These simple to implement steps are crucial in creating a supportive environment where you send a resounding message that her journey matters and that she is valued in the company. This positive experience not only reinforces her choice to return to work but empowers her to bring her whole self to work fuelling her commitment to excel. It’s these positive experiences that also help influence the reputation of the company as a family-friendly and inclusive workplace making it more appealing to potential employees.