Trying to juggle a career and a new-born baby can be difficult at times – especially if you don’t have the support you need. On the one hand, you want to ensure you are there for your child and can provide for them. On the other hand, you don’t want to jeopardise your career and sacrifice any future opportunities.
Thankfully, it is possible to balance your new-born child and a steady return to the workplace. If you’re in need of some help, you’ve come to the right place. Here are five of our best tips and tricks for adapting to motherhood in the workplace.
Create a Family Calendar
Organisation is key to creating a healthy work-life balance, so you should strive to keep all events and meetings in check, both at home and in the office. On the home side of things, you can create an online family calendar where everyone can add their events and collaborate to make sure things get done.
Make Mornings Easy
Most mothers will all agree that mornings are the worst part of the day. Everyone is in a grumpy mood and trying to get out of the door as fast as possible. Before you go to bed, try to ensure your mornings are a success. This means organising clothes for the day, packing lunches, and sticking to a routine.
Organise Maternity Leave
In the United States, the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) states that employers with 50 employees or more must allow new mothers and/or fathers to take up to 12 weeks off unpaid time. Although they are not legally required to pay a salary, they must hold the job and health insurance in place. If your employer fails to do so, you could request the help of lawyers at HKM to fight your case.
Prep For Breastfeeding
Another federal law that employers must abide by is sufficient break time for mothers to pump their breast milk at work. Until their babies reach the age of one, mothers are entitled to ample time and a private place to pump. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes that will allow you to breastfeed easily.
Always Have a Backup Babysitter
One of the most important tricks you need to learn to keep up your sleeve is the backup babysitter. Finding a great babysitter is hard enough as it is but finding two is even more difficult. Widen your search and get the number of two, or even three, great babysitters. This way, if one of them cancels, you’ll still have a backup and can attend your commitments.
If you’re struggling to keep the harmony between your work and personal life, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Sure, you can lean on your family members and friends, but you should also have a network of people at work that you can rely on. Moreover, don’t be afraid to demand what is rightfully yours, whether this be time to pump or time off for maternity leave.