Keeping in touch

You may wish to keep in touch with what is happening at work while you are away, so consider discussing with your supervisor how you would like to do this.

Would you like to remain on email lists? Would you prefer only to get in touch when you wish to?

Feedback from our Maternity leavers' forums and maternity leave surveys suggests women can feel disconnected while on leave, and worried and stressed about changes that have occurred. It is sometimes a steep learning curve, surprise or shock when they return to work.

Keeping in touch during maternity leave need not be onerous for either the work area or the maternity leaver, but could provide benefits.

Benefits of keeping in touch

Confidence in both maternity leaver and supervisor around the maternity leaver's return date
Changes in positions can be discussed before return to work
Changes in leave or return date can be discussed
Return to work options or changes in fraction can be discussed
A feeling of being connected with the work area and not ‘out of sight, out of mind'
Reduction of fear, anxiety or stress through no surprises on return to work
Important projects can benefit from input of employees with valued skills
Training and development can continue during maternity leave
Maternity leavers can keep abreast of information in relation to student and workplace issues (and sometimes feed into any consultation around changes)
Both University and returned maternity leaver benefit from the staff member's continuity of knowledge - no gaps in knowledge of what has taken place while absent
Women who have kept abreast of workplace changes are more likely to return to work at the end of their leave - the University retains experienced, skilled staff

There are possible disadvantages (particularly if expectations between supervisors and maternity leavers are not agreed upon):

If maternity leavers and supervisors agree on training or meeting attendance while on leave, this time needs to be added on to the leave taken or reimbursed in some other way
There might not be obvious benefit
Maternity leavers might feel pressured to take part in things they otherwise would not have

Of course not everyone wants or needs the same level of contact. It is recommended supervisors and maternity leavers go through the questions below before the pregnant staff member goes on leave, so that both are agreed on the level, means and frequency of contact. Maternity leavers are not obliged to complete a Keeping in touch plan - but supervisors should make the offer and undertake discussion even if a plan is not completed.

Keeping in touch plan

This plan is drafted for use between supervisor and maternity leaver, but need not be limited to these people - if the maternity leaver and other members of the team wish to record a commitment to keep in touch about particular issues or functions, the plan can be amended to suit.

Who

Who is going to do the contacting? Maternity leaver, supervisor, other team members?
Are there some circumstances when a particular person will make the contact?

When

Will the timing of contact depend on what the contact is about?
Would the maternity leaver prefer a regular contact, say once a month? (If this is the case, how will the contacting person remember to do so?)
Are there times of days that would be preferable if contact is by telephone?

What

This list may be used as a reference when completing the Keeping in touch plan, however do not be limited by this list - try and consider all the situations that would benefit from contact.

Changes or restructures to work area or position duties
Enterprise bargaining negotiations
Development or training activities
Promotion rounds
Procedure changes
Positions vacant
Calls for OSP/OCL
Social events (e.g. farewells, Christmas parties etc)
Seminars, forums in an area of interest
Annual Diversity Forum
Maternity Leavers' Forums

How

Email - most staff report this method to be most effective - however, please check that maternity leavers do have internet access at home
Telephone - Maternity leavers recognise this as a good option if the issue is urgent
Post - more formal and good if you need a written response, but relies on an up-to-date address and takes longer
College chat rooms or discussion boards if they are available