Table 2: Implementing policies and managing the process comprehensively and efficiently 1 2 3 4 5 Phase Starting off right Preparing for leave Staying connected Reintegration Career acceleration Standard Pregnant employees Leave and return Parents should feel Parents should be able to Career planning and expectation should be able to should be clearly connected to the pick up where they left off, development continue working planned, appropriately organisation during while being able to balance opportunities made as setting expectations for leave and the work and family commitments available placing ‘business usual’, – while having specific both employees and encouragement to returning parents on needs accommodated managers return should be clear same successful career trajectory as all other employees Mechanism Manager and Manager and employee Formal catch-up dates Highlight flexible return Career planning; to support employee checklists checklists; discuss that are not cancelled; options and establish a sustainable flexible to facilitate a positive in access to laptop and formal process for requesting program; removal of ‘staying touch’ and productive expectations; plan mobile; inclusion in and granting flexible work any unconscious or conversation about expected return dates; development reviews; requests; support managers systemic bias working during ensure a quick turn business update to manage flexible workers; pregnancy; work around on paper work newsletters return to work workshops and health and safety and consistent follow seminars; early childhood checklist up education and care services services; accommodate specific needs around breastfeeding/ expressing milk Mindsets got pregnant! want to be you had a good want that ‘She’s babybrain’ ‘Oh, you’re ‘She won’t ‘Have ‘She won’t that need You must be stepping bothered with opportunity, and I what’s holiday?’ don’t challenging back from your career happening in the want to load more work for a business during on her when she while’ leave’ already has a family to balance’
Table 2: Implementing policies and managing the process comprehensively and efficiently Phase 1 2 3 4 5 Starting off right Preparing for leave Staying connected Reintegration Career acceleration Standard expectation Pregnant employees should be able to continue working ‘business as usual’, while having specific needs accommodated Leave and return should be clearly planned, appropriately setting expectations for both employees and managers Parents should feel connected to the organisation during leave and the encouragement to return should be clear Parents should be able to pick up where they left off, while being able to balance work and family commitments Career planning and development opportunities made available – placing returning parents on same successful career trajectory as all other employees Mechanism to support Manager and employee checklists to facilitate a positive and productive conversation about working during pregnancy; work health and safety checklist Manager and employee checklists; discuss ‘staying in touch’ expectations; plan expected return dates; ensure a quick turn around on paper work and consistent follow up Formal catch-up dates that are not cancelled; access to laptop and mobile; inclusion in development reviews; business update newsletters Highlight flexible return options and establish a formal process for requesting and granting flexible work requests; support managers to manage flexible workers; return to work workshops and seminars; early childhood education and care services services; accommodate specific needs around breastfeeding/ expressing milk Career planning; sustainable flexible program; removal of any unconscious or systemic bias Mindsets that need challenging ‘She’s got babybrain’ ‘Oh, you’re pregnant! You must be stepping back from your career for a while’ ‘She won’t want to be bothered with what’s happening in the business during leave’ ‘Have you had a good holiday?’ ‘She won’t want that opportunity, and I don’t want to load more work on her when she already has a family to balance’
SWP_Community%20Guide_2014.docx