In this episode, I'm joined by Emma Mclean, executive coach, founder of Works for Everyone and host of the podcast How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty, to discuss the challenges of returning to paid work after parental leave and what parents can do to make this transition a little easier.
After spending 25 years working in the corporate world, Emma became increasingly aware of the different ways motherhood and fatherhood affected people's experiences in the workplace. She eventually retrained as an executive coach and now works with parents and employers to support the transition back to paid work, rebuild confidence and create more sustainable ways of combining career and family life.
We discuss why returning to work after having a baby can feel so overwhelming. From the enormous identity shift of becoming a parent to the practical challenges of childcare, time pressures and the mental load, Emma explains why returning to your previous role doesn't mean returning to the life you had before. We also explore the grief that can accompany this transition, particularly when parents are returning to work before they feel ready.
Emma shares practical strategies for preparing for a return to work, including having conversations with your manager before and after parental leave, identifying what you need, setting boundaries, and learning to ask for support without apologising or over-explaining. We talk about the importance of rebuilding confidence and recognising that becoming a parent doesn't diminish your value in the workplace.
A significant part of our conversation explores the unpaid work of running a household and caring for children. Emma explains why the division of this work needs to be intentionally reconsidered when a parent returns to paid employment, and offers advice for having constructive conversations with partners about responsibilities, expectations and the mental load.
We also discuss the experiences of dads and non-birthing parents, the societal expectations that can make it difficult for partners to take on greater caregiving responsibilities, and why supporting partners to be more involved at home is an important part of creating better outcomes for families and women in the workplace.
Throughout the conversation, Emma returns to one particularly important message. That if you're finding it difficult to combine parenting and paid work, you're navigating a system that was not designed for the realities of modern family life. While broader change is needed, there are practical steps parents can take to advocate for themselves, seek support and make the transition more manageable.
This is a validating and practical conversation about returning to work, sharing the load, challenging traditional expectations and recognising the enormous value of both paid and unpaid work.
You can find out more about Emma Mclean on instagram at @worksforeveryone.
A big thank you to First Aid for New Parents by The Postpartum Season for sponsoring this week’s episode, which will be launching soon!
Follow along on instagram at @thepostpartumseasonpodcast for updates about the launch.