Our 4 tips for a calm and confident return to work

The first piece of good news is that there are rights that firmly govern your maternity leave, your return to work, and what comes after.

Your job is protected

First of all, please know that you are entitled to return to the position you held before your leave, or a similar role, with at least equivalent pay. 

No changes to your employment contract can be imposed on you. Furthermore, you are protected against dismissal for the 10 weeks following your return from maternity leave (except in cases where it is impossible to maintain the employment contract or in the event of serious misconduct).

Had you not taken all your leave before going on maternity leave? 
No need to worry — you are entitled to recover all the days that were not compensated, even if the reference period expired during your absence.

Don't feel ready to go back to work? Need to ease yourself back in gradually? You are entitled to full-time or part-time parental leave until your child turns 3. This flexible leave is available to any employee with at least one year's service, can last up to 1 year, and can be renewed a maximum of 2 times.

Finally, please know that you have the option to resign without notice by sending a simple recorded letter at least 15 days before your official return date.

Two appointments not to miss

On your return, there are 2 appointments you'll need to add to your diary quickly:

- The occupational health appointment, to be completed within 8 days of your return
- The return-to-work meeting to hold with your manager

This is an opportunity to reconnect with your manager, to discuss how you're feeling as you return, and to talk about your professional goals and development prospects. It is by no means an opportunity to evaluate your work.

Our tip: Don't wait for your manager to send you an invitation — take the initiative! Organise and prepare for this meeting now.

Working and breastfeeding: it's possible

Returning to work doesn't necessarily mean stopping breastfeeding — on the contrary, it is very well supported by employment law. Indeed, the law allows you to dedicate 1 hour of your working time to expressing milk or breastfeeding. Moreover, organisations with more than 100 employees are required to provide you with a dedicated space for breastfeeding. To support you, you can bring along a breastfeeding snack with you.

To find out more, have a look at our article on breastfeeding at work. 

What a relief! You've finally found the childcare arrangement that fits your constraints and your needs.

To feel at ease and fully focused on your return to work, it is important to feel confident in the childcare arrangement you have chosen for your child. Why? To avoid overthinking and letting your mind wander, imagining how the day is going for them in your absence, for example!

To do this, don't overlook the settling-in period, which is essential for building a trusting relationship with the team or childminder looking after your child and for handing over smoothly.

Don't hesitate to share all your concerns and needs with this person or these people. 
 

A good idea is to set up a liaison notebook or a WhatsApp group through which you can receive photos and updates about your baby during the day, at least at the start. 

A parent's brain takes in an enormous amount of information — far more than most of us anticipated before having children… And this is even more true when returning to work!

To prevent it from turning into a pressure cooker about to explode, here are 3 valuable tips to help manage your mental load:

When the time comes to return to your professional life, some of you will have found the time dragging and be eager to get back, while others will regret seeing the maternity leave chapter come to a close. Either way, your energy will be put to the test and you may find yourself wondering how you'll manage going back to work without feeling your best.

No need to worry — here are a few simple habits to adopt for a gentle return to energy:

Taking care of your diet

Now is not the time to put yourself through a drastic diet, which will only frustrate you. During this period of transition, be gentle with yourself and allow yourself (in moderation) a few small pleasures. Take care of your diet, because it is the foundation of our wellbeing and vitality. 

Above all, stock up on super ingredients — prioritise essential fatty acids, a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, and plenty of protein.

To go further, have a look at our articles onpostpartum nutrition and how to naturally boost your immunity.

Exercise: your best ally for getting your energy back

With the agreement of the healthcare professional overseeing your postpartum recovery, gradually ease back into physical activity. By adopting gentle practices such as yoga, walking or swimming, you will carve out little pockets of time just for yourself while taking care of your body.

A final word…

Returning to work often means stress, anxiety, or at the very least a necessary reorganisation. It can be difficult — if not impossible — to know how things will unfold.
By preparing yourself for this big return, you will be better equipped to face the challenges of going back to work and approach the moment with greater peace of mind.