by Jasna Cameron

If you are a big fan of the golden oldie, legendary sitcom "Friends," you may remember an episode in Season Nine where Rachel returns to the office after maternity leave.  Her intention to show off her brand-new baby turns into a rather unpleasant experience. It seems that while she was away, her boss employed a new guy to perform her job.  Her replacement is a hit with everyone, especially her boss. Her reaction is natural - she freaks out, fearing that her temporary replacement may become a permanent fixture, and so she decides to return to work immediately.

While the sitcom reflects this real-life situation in a humorous, light-hearted way, it can be very difficult for many moms returning from maternity leave.

How do you stay in touch with the office while on maternity leave?

Luckily for today’s career women, the road has been paved by generations of brave, dedicated, relentless warriors fighting for gender equality in the corporate world.

Methods that have been proposed for staying in touch with the office while on maternity leave include “Keep in Touch Days” (KIT days) and “reasonable contact”.   They are effective methods for ensuring that you stay up-to-date with what is happening at the workplace.  In other parts of the developed world these procedures are standard practice, but not in the US.  

Note that if you’re taking your leave under FMLA, the law states that your employer can’t ask or require you to perform work while on leave, though you are within your rights to field occasional calls as a “professional courtesy.”

What are KIT Days?

One of the most effective tools at your disposal is ‘Keep in Touch’ days.

While it is not mandatory or common practice in the US, it is worth taking the time to become familiar with this concept, from a legal and psychological perspective.

KIT days refer to the days you can use during your maternity leave to go back to the office and get back in touch with what you may have missed during the first few weeks of maternity leave.  KIT days may include:

• Attending training sessions to update your skills.

• Attending conferences.

• Regularly checking in with your employer or team (onsite or via online platforms).

• Spending time in the office every now and again to attend to various matters.

What are the benefits of KIT days?

The benefits of these days (if appropriately managed) are great.

• Psychologically they ease the transition from maternity leave back to the office and give you a sense of confidence that you can still complete your work duties.

• They ensure that you don’t miss out on what’s going on at the office and reduce the chances that you will become redundant.

• They give you flexibility.

• They can be customized to your own needs and capabilities.

Note that you don’t have to take them all at once and can spread them out evenly throughout your leave to keep in touch with all the necessary developments. Once your maternity leave officially comes to an end and you squeeze back into your business suit, you won’t feel like you have been thrown into the deep end.

Are KIT Days compulsory?

As mentioned previously, KIT days are not required by law, and you should discuss the amount of time and method of contact with your boss beforehand.   It helps to be as specific as possible.  Outline the kinds of tasks you can manage on those days and the level at which you can be involved.  Because maternity leave is not paid in the US, you will have to discuss whether or not you will be paid for these tasks.

It is also essential to understand the legal ramifications of KIT days.  Be aware that attending work for KIT days does not end your maternity leave.  Furthermore, it is not advised in the first two weeks of your maternity leave.

Where do I start?

First and foremost, you must be clear with yourself on what your career goals are. Have they changed with the looming arrival of your baby? Are you more intent on pursuing professional goals to secure your child's future, or are you now less inclined to be a go-getter in the corporate world? There are no wrong answers, but knowing which path you are on will make your life a lot easier.

The Pre-plan Proposal

It is best for you to approach your boss with a proposal. Be the pro-active employee who diligently compiles a working plan that will keep you in touch with your work-life while on maternity leave.

Whether through emails, phone calls, or conference calls, decide on the frequency and level of involvement you can commit to during your maternity leave. Will you want them to be purely informative, or will you want to respond and with what degree of urgency? Bear in mind that your priorities will be drastically different with a crying infant in your arms, who is entirely dependent on you, day and night.

If you are one of those brave souls who survives the first few weeks still carrying the office torch, you may decide on a more hands-on approach. The balance you seek should still in favor of your baby, but your old career-driven self may start to re-emerge through the tunnel of sleepless nights.  Just don’t take on more than you can handle. Only you will know best how the opportunities provided by these procedures can match your needs and capabilities during this special time of your life.

The Human Link

Once you've given yourself a chance to determine how you will keep in touch, start putting things in place around the office that will make the return to work more comfortable. Do this before you go on maternity leave.   According to some experts, your colleagues should be your starting point, especially those who have already returned from maternity leave. Colleagues with children are likely to be more patient, understanding, and willing to dispense constructive advice.

What if I just want to focus on my baby?

You may realize that you would like to use this special time away from work to devote yourself to your new-born baby instead of running back and forth from the office, and this is also ok.  In this case, you may try to find a balance to keep in touch with your boss and colleagues that is less intrusive - through emails and maybe the occasional phone call or zoom meeting.

Lucy Dickens dispenses some excellent advice in her blog, “How I’ve stayed engaged with my career while on maternity leave”.  She suggests other methods for staying relevant while on maternity leave, including upskilling yourself by enrolling in online courses.  These will help keep your mind sharp through months of breastfeeding and burping your little bundle of joy.  Among other things, Lucy also stayed in touch with her team by doing the interviews of prospective employees, which helped lighten her colleagues' workload.  She also suggests socializing with your colleagues (in real life or through social platforms), and even volunteering to keep yourself on track without too much pressure.

Summary

Don’t be a Rachel. Don't let yourself be side-lined when you return from maternity leave, but also don't let staying in the loop stress you out while you should be bonding with your infant. Take time to clarify your own career goals, considering how motherhood may affect you. Once you have decided on the path ahead, start putting things in place to make the transition to your work environment smooth. Educate yourself on what tools are available to you to go back to work with as little anxiety as possible after maternity leave. Decide on what method is best suitable to you and be flexible enough to change it, should parenting a new-born baby demand it.

We live in a great age of mobile phones, text messages, emails, and zoom meetings that can offer you a life-line to your office on your terms. If you are more of a hands-on, in-person type of employee, don’t be shy to explore Keep in Touch days, and remember, the power is in your hands.