How to stay 'in the game' whilst being on maternity?

AimeesMum_2

Lol, my heading sounds like doing something naughty for work but actually I just couldn't think of any other way to put it x

How do you ensure that you aren't forgotten about when you go on maternity leave?

bob2

Keeping in Touch (KIT) days

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/statutory-maternity-pay-smp/working-in-your-maternity-pay/

KIT days are intended to help you keep in touch with your workplace and allow you to do some work during your Maternity Pay Period without affecting your SMP. They could also help ease your eventual return to work. The type of work you do could be attending work for a training course or for an appraisal interview. These are just examples, but whether you take advantage of these days is your choice.

bubblegum1985

keeping in touch days, i think its up to 10 during your maternity leave.

Nicki

Depends on what your job is.

When I was on maternity leave, I kept my laptop and logged on every few weeks just to read the all staff emails (any stuff sent to me by clients was automatically diverted so that it could be dealt with by others in the office). If you have an office based job, and a blackberry or access to work emails from home that could be an option?

Also lunch with colleagues occasionally, or meet them after work for a drink.

ntb1

Why not just enjoy your baby.

Kathy535

Can you speak with your line manager or boss and let them know you want to be kept up to date and included in any happenings? When I was on mat leave (16 years ago now!) I made it clear I was returning and wanted to be kept included, and they were great. Mind you, mat leave was only for three months then so no real hardship on their part!

I currently work in a big organisation but in a small and close knit team. On a organisational level, all staff on maternity leave (or any other kind of absence, secondments, lt sick etc) receive regular updates, correspondence etc. On a team level, staff bring in their babies every couple of months so we can coo over them (we are a mixed team btw!) and are always invited to social events. But, then it's clear that they want to be included, of they didn't then we'd respect that too.

AP007

AimeesMum wrote: »

Lol, my heading sounds like doing something naughty for work but actually I just couldn't think of any other way to put it x

How do you ensure that you aren't forgotten about when you go on maternity leave?

I was going to suggest Keeping In tocuh days which I think are 10 in total.

Why not also if you have team meeting and minutes taken ask for them to be emailed to you so you can keep up to date with what's going on.

Takeaway_Addict

KIT days require your employer to allow this but they are a good way.

Either that or shorten your maternity leave so its not as long

Nicki

ntb1 wrote: »

Why not just enjoy your baby.

The two things aren't mutually exclusive!

nearlyrich

It's a long time since I was on Mat leave but one of my current colleagues started to come to team meetings again about 3 months before coming back to work. I suppose it depends what you do for a living though...

Hermia

Depends on what your job is. There is a really busy newsgroup-type thing related to my profession and I know a lot of people keep subscribed to that when they are off work. Even just skimming the titles of the discussions gives you an idea of what issues are currently important.