Every office has its share of frenemies, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately types, and a sacred few people you’d be happy to call friends. Like it or not, when you go on maternity leave, you’d better make nice with the whole crew.
J.C. Conklin is the co-author of Comeback Moms: How to Leave Work, Raise Children, and Restart Your Career Even If You Haven’t Had a Job in Years. She offers advice on using a little good will to build the foundation for a return to work before you even leave.
Pay it Forward: Networking involves a favors bank. When it’s time to re-enter the workforce, you want former colleagues to remember you with fondness, not as the one who jumped ship and left everyone with all of her work. Take on the tasks no one else wants to do. Bring in donuts (or Pinkberry). Grab a drink (mocktail) with co-workers.
Contact: It’s about who you know. Assemble a good list of names and numbers while you’re still in the mix.
Some Like it Hot: Don’t let contacts go cold while you’re out of the workforce. Grab lunch with former colleagues, email them regularly and join professional organizations.
Somewhere in Time: Start laying the groundwork for your exit as soon as you know you’re pregnant, even if you’re not sure whether you’re just taking maternity leave or quitting. Co-workers can be helpful in either situation.
Gone with the Wind: A graceful exit is key. One surefire way to annoy a lot of people is to take maternity leave and then quit. Remember: You’ve just had a paid leave, your boss holds your spot and your co-workers pick up the slack.
Practical Magic: Do a dry run of being a one-salary family. For two months, deposit your paycheck into savings and see what life is like living on a single salary. If the financial strain is too much, you might need to reevaluate your decision to stay home or rethink your budget.
For more information, visit momsnextmove.com.