https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 03:56:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470588 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 21:39:14 +0000 agold 2470588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm subscribing to this because I will be in a similar situation in August. I'm on a small team and there's no one to do my job. I had to go on bed rest for a few weeks in January and it was awful trying to work during that. But I was still being paid so I made it work. If I'm taking any sort of maternity leave where I won't get paid, then I'm absolutely not going to work at all. It seems like it will be hard for me to disconnect, but I'm sure once the baby comes I won't have trouble doing so. So no pay from work means no work from me.</p> <p>ETA: I know I will probably have to work like mad leading up to the maternity leave and work like crazy after I come back, but if shit goes down while I'm away and not being paid, I'm not going to worry about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470474 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:45:38 +0000 MrsBeluga 2470474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second this statement "I'm technically not allowed to work for free, but there's no one checking." Especially if you work at a small company, what HR or Legal team is going to get you in trouble :).</p> <p>Maybe you could even just track hours worked while off, and trade them in for extra vacation to be used down the road? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470465 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:33:42 +0000 SLR 2470465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hopped online regularly with my first and stayed up to speed on what was going on. I mainly addressed any urgent issues and left most of the day to day stuff to my group. I think I dialed in for only 2-3 meetings in the 12 weeks I was out.</p> <p>Since then though, my company has been acquired and the new policy requires access be revoked while on leave. I have a feeling it will be incredibly frustrating. There are some unique things taking place and I'd like to keep in touch with at least my direct reports. But, nope...they won't budge. Our open enrollment is also in a couple weeks and would be done online, so I'll have to do this offline with HR too. Such a pain... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470429 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 17:57:31 +0000 Mama Bird 2470429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel your pain! I'm an engineer too, and my boss would not discuss who would take on my projects until two weeks before baby was due. I finally managed to get it across that if I hand off some projects before I'm gone, there's much less disaster potential. And I promised to check my email - I couldn't do anything that involved logging into the network for the first three months (baby ate too often and slept too badly) but I was glued to my phone while nursing anyway, so answering people's questions was no big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470425 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 17:56:19 +0000 Pollywog 2470425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in a similar boat (and on maternity leave now). I log onto email a few times a week (normally during my 6 am nursing session) and put out fires. I don't commit to doing work, but will do it if it will save me time down the road. My team knows they can text at any point and had clear instructions on what they should call me over.</p> <p>I'm taking 6 weeks sick and then 12 weeks half time/ half vacation. There's no problem with me working on leave because I'm not taking FMLA. I'm technically not allowed to work for free, but there's no one checking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470385 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 17:05:32 +0000 MrsBeluga 2470385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same boat here! It sucks but you will get through it! I work on a tiny team (7 people) and there is no else here to do my job while I am out (short of hiring a temp). Try to get as much as you can done before you do go out on mat leave, and try to get someone to help cover while you are out, just to make sure that worst case, if you really cant email or call for a month or so, that things don't fall apart entirely.</p> <p>Here is my plan come August:</p> <p>Before delivery - At least 2 (leaning towards 3-4) weeks of a reduced schedule to 3 days/wk. I want some extra time to spend with my 2 yr old before she is no longer our only, I want some time for myself, and I want some time to get our house ready for a newborn. We live in CA and the State will pay you to take the entire month pre-delivery off, so this is a compromise given my work situation.</p> <p>Following delivery - 6 weeks of not working - no emails or calls or anything. 6 weeks - 3M - 3 days/wk and between 3M - 5M - 4 days/wk. The second half of the year is slower for me, so working less should be manageable. Because we live in CA DH gets 6 weeks of paternity leave that he is going to try to stretch PT over a longer 12 week period too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470283 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:26:54 +0000 ms.line 2470283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: It's great you got a raise &amp; recognition - that definitely helps to soften the blow! I'm glad the link resonated with you - I didn't mean to come across so salty, but I'm also struggling with the ever-moving target of "having it all." Wishing you all the best! :goodluck: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470186 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 14:12:16 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2470186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms.line: I wanted to reply to you individually, because I also saw a lot of who I am in that article and I want to thank you for posting it. It is really giving me some perspective. This paragraph especially:</p> <p>"Doing all of it at the same time was never the idea. By that definition, single working moms have been “having it all” for ages and yet society does not hold the single working mom up as the goal for women everywhere. No, no, that’s just what happens when you’re poor and have no choice. Except actually, that’s what happens to all but the very very rich when you encourage women to work and have children but don’t change any other part of the world they live in."</p> <p>I agree that I am in a shitty situation, but I think it is just a perfect storm of sorts. We had weekly meetings for months trying to identify a suitable replacement and spent considerable effort trying to court possible candidates, but there was literally no one qualified that was willing to move to our firm. I do think they could have done more, but I know how much they value me. I did get a substantial raise and do get constant recognition of how I'm going "above and beyond". Since I am a FTM, I really need to look to see how I want to manage everything (because balance is a myth).</p> <p>Thanks again, you really gave me a lot to think about. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2470168 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 13:55:57 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2470168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you to everyone that took the time to post. Not surprisingly, work kept me busy so I didn't respond as quickly as I would have liked.<br /> Thankfully, I got a lot done this weekend and baby still isn't here yet so I'm feeling a little better.</p> <p>All of my mom friends have much more straightforward jobs when it comes to maternity leave, where they really can't do their jobs unless they go into work (a lot are in the medical field) so they can't really empathize with me.<br /> It makes me feel better I'm not alone in this. </p> <p>I checked with HR, I will still have access to email and there are no strict policies regarding working. Any possible restrictions would only apply to the first 6 weeks, not the entire leave, but HR confirmed there wasn't anything official. </p> <p>I hadn't thought of splitting up my leave. It is doable after my short term disability is over since I would just be using vacation hours anyway. That is something I am really going to consider. </p> <p>I also need to realize that I will have to clean up messes regardless of how well everything is managed. The thing that scares me is that for two of my projects, there are huge implications if things go wrong (like federal funding for the construction projects will fall through if deadlines aren't met costing our clients, and ultimately us, hundreds of thousands of dollars). But my co-workers understand this big risk and I'll just have to trust them. </p> <p>Thanks again to everyone sharing their perspective, it has really helped! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2466153 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:35:21 +0000 PurplePeony 2466153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in a similar situation. My office has 3 people (me, my boss, and a support person) and when I went on leave, the support role had been vacant for a year. I was really worried about leaving my boss all alone because certain parts of our jobs are strictly delineated and there are things he's not allowed to do. In my case, the office basically went into a holding pattern -- he did what he could do, our headquarters office helped somewhat, and deadlines got pushed back. I did have periodic conference calls with him and worked from home now and then; I probably could have done more from home but he said not to stress about it. I don't have short-term disability and my work was fine with me taking any combination of sick/annual/intermittent FMLA leave so there was no issue with that. My timeline for coming back part-time and then full-time was the same as yours. There were definitely some messes to clean up when I got back, but it really was t as bad as I had feared. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2466073 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:10:51 +0000 Mrs D 2466073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - I was (and am again) very much in your situation. My work is somewhat willing to turn a blind eye to some involvement.</p> <p>With K - I had been very open with my boss that I intended to turn on my out of office reply but I was very open that I would be monitoring emails. Like you said - not because I felt like I had to but because 1) its just going to fall on me to fix it when I get back anyways and 2) I wanted to still be in the loop - I wasnt wanting to completely disconnect.</p> <p>My bosses were both men - one completely understood me and one was a bit more "you should just disconnect"...I had a serious sit down with him and just explain that that is not who I am and not how I can function. They both accepted my request to continue to be cc'd on emails that were important (not just mundane day to day stuff) under the constraint that I would no "work" or feel I needed to "work" more than I wanted or could easily manage. The reality was that nursing I had 4-5 hours a day sitting and feeding her...so it was super easy to stay up on emails.</p> <p>Every once in a while I was able to contribute or stay on top of things and put out a fire before it started. I was also able to keep them from spinning their wheels if it was a question I could answer. My boss who I dealt more directly with knew that by putting "IMPORTANT" or "READ" at the beginning of a subject line I would focus on that over others. It worked out well for us.</p> <p>After 6w of leave I had lunch with my one boss and 2w later I had lunch with my direct report. For me - it was just nice to stay in the loop - it saved me from having more anxiety about coming back not knowing what I was coming back to.</p> <p>I have started having similar discussions with my current boss (a woman this time with 2 kids herself). She said she is willing to work with me however makes me comfortable but of course wants me to know she fully respect my leave and doesnt want me to feel obligated to do anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2466021 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:48:54 +0000 Alivoo01 2466021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agreed on checking up on the policy for working while on leave. Many don't allow it, but some let you slip by a bit if they're not stringent on following that rule.</p> <p>If they allow you to work while on leave, could you just address emails? Respond if they need you directly, or forward it to someone and say, hey (name), I'm currently out on maternity leave, but (associate's name) will be able to assist you with this. If you need any additional info/help from me, let me know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2466011 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:44:42 +0000 ms.line 2466011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@EBSC: Your advice is very constructive, but I think it's worth noting that while you were hired to be a director, temperancebrennan took over job responsibilities that weren't really hers to begin with! And her company had twice as long to backfill. I think that's why it really irks me. But, if you have to really have to accommodate such a situation, the "funnel person" makes a lot of sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2466007 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:42:49 +0000 Applesandbananas 2466007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you might be able to split your leave up, maybe you could take 6 weeks, then come back for a week, then take 3 weeks, come back for a week, then take 3 more? I'm not sure of the exact regulations but it might be an option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465984 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:33:21 +0000 EBSC 2465984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could have written this post, though with a smaller team. I started a new role as director of a grad program at 6mos pregnant, I've been on leave since 11/30, and will go back on Monday. We were trying to hire a backfill to expand the team before I went on leave, but it didn't happen.</p> <p>What I ultimately decided to do, and has worked, is to have one main point person who was the funnel for all of my outside contacts. She was listed on my out-of-office and knew that she'd be the outward facing person for our team where I usually was. It's a stretch for her, as we do slightly different things, but it's really helped everyone know who to talk to when I've been out.</p> <p>To the bigger question of how to make sure that she's able to do everything -- we're close, and she's talked to me a lot. I told her repeatedly (and meant it) that I had no problem with her reaching out to me as much as needed, I just didn't want to be available to everyone else too. We've probably talked for an hour or two every week, and I've still kept my email on my phone and checked it a few times a day. It's usually things from her (email if it's not urgent, call if it is) and I can help her keep the program running without devoting all my time to it.</p> <p>It'd be nice if every job meant you could really take a full leave, but I really couldn't. I don't feel shortchanged at all on leave, it's just the reality of being in a leadership role. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465951 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:20:50 +0000 ms.line 2465951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What does your boss have to say about your concerns and the lack of team lead replacement? Frankly, I think it's pretty sh!tty they're putting you in this situation. It's very admirable that you stepped up and took over these projects above your pay grade, especially while pregnant. I totally get that you don't want to be stuck with a mess when you return, but you shouldn't have to worry about remotely managing projects while also trying to get to know your baby and figure out being a mom. Ten weeks is NOT a long time to be out, and they've had ample notice. I vote *lean out*! </p> <p>Also, I'm reminded of this piece that circulated a few days ago: <a href="https://medium.com/life-tips/having-it-all-kinda-sucks-91ea302736e4#.vh0ioo8w4" rel="nofollow">https://medium.com/life-tips/having-it-all-kinda-sucks-91ea302736e4#.vh0ioo8w4</a> (Which I saw a lot of myself in!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465865 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:55:09 +0000 blackbird 2465865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you legally work during leave?.....there are some implications to short term disability, I think (i know for me, they actually tried to make me turn in my laptop because it is illegal for me to work government contracts while on leave....) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465783 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:32:31 +0000 avivoca 2465783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You might want to check on the rules for leave. I was not allowed to work while on leave, and this included checking email or phone calls about business. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465772 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:27:35 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2465772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also don't think it's fair to expect you to stay engaged while you're on leave. I took 4.5 months maternity leave, and my boss took on all of my work while I was gone. Unless you're backfilled by someone who doesn't have anything else going on, there are things that are going to be missed. A contract that I was expecting to be executed by the end of the year sat for the full length of my maternity leave. We're almost 2 months into the new year without a contract. It's frustrating, but it's going to happen. </p> <p>The best you can do is prepare a full maternity plan while you're out. Assign tasks to the other engineers (if you're able to) and indicate exactly what needs to be completed on each project, what the milestones are, and who will take responsibility for them while you're out. Though I did that, my boss was incredibly overwhelmed and just didn't get to things. I picked them up as soon as I got back, but at least others know what your workload is and what needs to get done while you're out. Your performance cannot be reviewed for what dropped while you were on leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465769 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:25:28 +0000 looch 2465769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you know if they will turn off your email access (suspend the account)? If so, and you can't send attachments to external email addresses, you're going to have a tough time staying caught up and within the company's rules.</p> <p>I like the conf call idea, but IME, I'd prepare to have a mess to clean up and then be pleasantly surprised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465755 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:18:07 +0000 MrsKoala 2465755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is just a situation where you're going to have to trust your other team members and let them take care of things. You can ask them to keep you up to date with maybe a weekly newsletter type email where you get a summary of what happened that week. You're lucky that you work with a team and can leave and know that there are people who can pick up the slack. Don't do what I did and spend much of your maternity leave working. It's not worth it and you will end up drained and run down because of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465742 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:14:14 +0000 Cherrybee 2465742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Perhaps you could schedule a weekly catch up call with a named colleague? Schedule it for a time window - say between 9-11am - and say that you will call when it's convenient (you don't want to be stressed out trying to call at a specific time if the baby wont sleep or something). That will put your mind at rest because you know exactly what's going on, allow you to trouble shoot any issues by giving timely advice, without you feeling like you have to be on call all week for problems? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465728 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:08:44 +0000 Mamaof2 2465728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had 8 weeks of STD leave after that I worked 20 hrs per week at home and went back to the office FT at 13 weeks.</p> <p>I actually loved doing it that way - it eased me back in and for those PT hours I could work when I wanted throughout the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465719 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:05:13 +0000 NovBaby1112 2465719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's very fair to expect you to stay engaged while on leave- that's the whole point of taking a maternity leave! It's been easy for me both times to not work, you aren't allowed to have access to anything work related while on leave- no checking emails, etc. I would honestly just try to leave it up to them to figure out, I'm sure it might be hard to let go of some stuff but it's not really fair for you to have to juggle keeping up with work and a newborn either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465716 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:04:41 +0000 snowjewelz 2465716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in a totally different industry, and def not as hectic as what you have on your plate! First of all I want to say that it's great that your co-workers are supportive! That makes me happy since we always hear about the lack of support for mothers in the work place! </p> <p>Anyway, I checked my email a lot, and my boss would text me w/ questions and I'd call in occasionally to answer questions. I had tons of time for that; during that newborn stage, DD was always sleeping or marathon nursing so I was just sitting there on the couch ALL day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-you-able-to-stay-engaged-with-work-while-on-maternitypaternity-leave#post-2465705 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 09:59:31 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2465705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm kind of in a tough situation with work and I'm very apprehensive about my maternity leave. I'm an engineer and I work in a satellite office (of 9 people) in a different state from our corporate office. There is one other person in my group (that does the same type of engineering that I do). </p> <p>Six months ago (literally the day after I told my boss about my pregnancy) the senior leader of our group (3 people at that time) left for a different firm (a surprise to everyone). At that time, he was managing all the projects. When he left, I took over all the projects, which was a big stretch for me (although awesome for professional development). The goal was to hire a replacement for him ASAP, but here we are, six months later, without a viable candidate. I am essentially doing the job of someone with 7-10 more years experience than I have.</p> <p>The other engineer in my group is very capable technically, but very young with no project management experience. There is no one else in my company that has the knowledge base/experience to take over. </p> <p>I'm planning to take 10 weeks off, part time week 11-12, and back to full time on the 13th week. </p> <p>Most of our clients know I am expecting, but without a suitable replacement, I'm still their contact person. There are a lot of critical milestones that will have to be met while I'm on leave. My co-workers (all men) have been very understanding and have assured me they will be able to handle things, but I'm nervous about things going wrong, because it will ultimately be my responsibility and I will have to clean up any messes when I get back. </p> <p>Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you balance staying up-to-date with work without basically working during your maternity leave? Anyone have any advice? I'm due in less than a week with my first! </p> <p>TLDR: Work is very busy, I have a lot of responsibilities, and there isn't a replacement for me during maternity leave. I need to be able to stay in the loop without essentially working from home. How do I do it? </p>