https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:46:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732610 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:26:14 +0000 Beehive 732610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septemberlove: I didn't bring LO into the office until he was 4 months old, partly because I didn't get around to it until then but also partly because that was when I was comfortable with other people (who won't all have washed their hands/sanitized them) touching him. </p> <p>I was on maternity leave for 6 months, and I would say I checked in with my boss or he checked in with me probably once a month or so, just so I wouldn't feel out of the loop. I wasn't asked to do any work, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732595 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:04:26 +0000 matador84 732595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>unfortunately, i did almost every day. my email inbox would fill up otherwise! i still managed to enjoy my mat leave, but i have the kind of job where just because i'm gone the work doesn't stop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732394 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 04:24:40 +0000 Smurfette 732394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septemberlove: same with me. His texts have been about LO. But I ask about office gossip, not actual work:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732386 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 03:02:37 +0000 lomom 732386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: I've texted my coworker whom I consider a friend moreso than a coworker but she won't repeat anything to anyone if I ask her not to. </p> <p>I'm really leaning towards not bringing LO in to visit. They were mocking two other new moms for asking everyone to use hand sanitizer before touching their LOs (one mom brought in her LO at 6 days old) so with a preemie, I'm just not really keen on going around people who can't respect the health of a baby. </p> <p>So I'm also trying to avoid that question too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732385 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:56:53 +0000 lomom 732385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: wow, I wish it was illegal for me as well! Are you in the States? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732380 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 01:32:59 +0000 blackbird 732380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's actually illegal for me to check AnY work email while on a leave of absence. My company totally forbids it! So I sent an announcement email from my personal email, had a handful of interactions with coworkers (mostly congrats, me saying thanks, etc) and that's it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732377 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 01:25:30 +0000 Smurfette 732377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have emailed with some ripple and one person and I text but everyone is giving me space, which is nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732348 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:22:49 +0000 MamaCate 732348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septemberlove: our HR person went over a policy re: keeping in contact with my direct supervisor on a (i think) weekly basis to basically make sure that I was coming back etc. My boss is super cool so i just emailed her very occasional with baby pics. There was no question about my returning and she was aware of that. i did absolutely nothing work-related other than that until i returned. </p> <p>given your LO's early arrival and NICU stay, you may just want to send an email to your boss asking him/her to share it with whoever they felt was appropriate. you could just say that LO arrived safely and you are doing well and focusing on getting to know her etc. i would only include the NICU part if you are comfortable. I am sure people are trying to be nice and they would be understanding of your need for time/privacy. Plus if you send a picture that might hold everyone off for a while!</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732242 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:19:48 +0000 wheres_c 732242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did the same as @yoursilverlining.</p> <p>My LO did not need extra care and I think it's perfectly reasonable to go offline until baby is home from the NICU and settled. Don't feel guilty about putting baby first! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732221 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:07:00 +0000 yoursilverlining 732221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I checked work email several times a week to keep my inbox clear and to make sure there were no fires to put out. In the last few weeks of leave, I started working a few hours every couple days to get back on track (and I was able to take that time later, after my mat ended). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732218 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:03:05 +0000 SLR 732218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was online a fair amount. I kept up with emails so I was in the loop on things but didn't reply unless necessary. In my last month, I called in to a couple meetings and had to pull some data together on a few occasions. I also had to do performance reviews for my department; that was a pain to do since I was not at all in work mode. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732210 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:51:50 +0000 autumnlove 732210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I emailed my favorite coworkers about 1-2 times a month and I went in once for a company BBQ. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732208 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:47:57 +0000 mrsjyw 732208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep-- not because they asked, but because I have my work laptop with me and so I would check it once a week or so to clear out my inbox and fwd over any emails so they weren't overlooked from customers in other global regions who weren't aware of my leave, etc.</p> <p>as far as birth etc... i texted my boss when i was in labor and included her in my announcement text to friends/fam once he was born. and that was it!</p> <p>i emailed pics a couple of times to my team/boss and took him in for a visit at two months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732203 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:46:54 +0000 mediagirl 732203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sent one group email to work and then went offline for 2 months. They knew how long I was planning on being out so I knew we were OK. I might send out a mass email giving an update on where you stand now and let them know you'll be in touch once things calm down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-talk-to-work-while-on-mat-leave#post-732146 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:24:09 +0000 lomom 732146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sent my boss a text before my not-emergency but not-scheduled c section and let her know I was about to have a c section and obviously wouldn't be in the next day. </p> <p>She texted me the next day, asking for updates so I gave her a brief, vague update. I haven't texted her or talked to her since then. Tons of people from work have texted but I've ignored them. LO's been in the NICU and quite frankly, coworkers/work is at the very bottom of my extremely long list. Between keeping our families updated, staying with LO, pumping, taking care of myself postpartum, etc. </p> <p>How much did you communicate with your work? </p>