Maternity Leave - Keeping in Touch

The EED Unit has established a Keeping in Touch program with the aim of providing managers and supervisors with some material to help them keep in touch with their staff member whilst they are on leave.
The Kit includes two useful checklists, one to be used before staff go on maternity leave and the other before they return. These checklists can be used by both staff and their supervisors.

Practical tips for staff

Practical tips for Heads of Units/Supervisors

  1. Plan ahead as soon as you know that a staff member will be taking parental leave. Discuss the staff member’s needs in relation to work and parental leave.
  2. As the vacancy left by the staff member taking parental leave is temporary, the area can look at a number of options for filling it, including: recruitment; temporary secondment; using it to provide career development opportunities in the area; offering it as a short term contract position. Check your proposal with Personnel Services.
  3. Use the Keeping in Touch Kit to ensure that contact with the staff member is maintained. This could include:
  4. Diarising a regular time to make telephone contact and have a chat about what’s happening in the workplace;
  5. Ensuring the staff member receives information about any major procedural or organisational changes or changes which may impact on the staff member’s career;
  6. Providing information about relevant conferences, seminars, training and development opportunities;
  7. Make sure the absent staff member has access to notification of internal staff vacancies;
  8. Inviting the staff member to any planning day activities, major social events such as Christmas party, lunch/dinner for someone’s birthday, retirement etc;
  9. Taking time to discuss options for returning to work. Is the staff member interested in a return to work program, which includes part-time work? Is breastfeeding accommodation relevant? Discuss the University’s requirements for notification of returning to work.
  10. Complete the Return from Maternity Leave Notification form

Information is also available on the above leave types or work practices in relevant University policies, awards, conditions of employment or agreements. These documents are available on the University web site via Information for Staff.

Last reviewed: 30 July, 2009