{"id":7063,"date":"2024-10-22T09:16:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T09:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&p=7063"},"modified":"2026-07-28T05:18:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T10:18:58","slug":"employees-returning-to-work-after-parental-leave","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/talent-management\/employees-returning-to-work-after-parental-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"6 ways to support employees returning to work after parental leave"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n

by Brightmine Editorial Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning to work after the birth of a child is an important time for new parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving a newborn child who is often no more than 12 weeks old in the care of someone else \u2014 whether it’s a daycare provider, a grandparent who lives nearby or even a spouse \u2014 can be emotionally wrenching, especially for first-time parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add in sleepless nights, new financial obligations and all the other challenges that come with parenthood, and it’s easy to see why parents have been consistently more likely to report experiencing high levels of stress compared to other adults, as noted in a recent report by the US Surgeon General<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By helping parents balance professional responsibilities with family commitments, employers can ensure a smooth reintegration into the workplace and reduce the risk of employee burnout and turnover<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optimize leave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Employers should review their Paid Parental Leave Policy and\/or Paid Time Off Policy<\/a> to make sure they are parent-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, providing ways for employees request PTO at the last minute when necessary can help new parents who can sometimes need to take off time off with little notice due to daycare closings or a sick child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extending paid leave periods or providing phased return-to-work schedules also can ease the transition for new parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay flexible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flexible work arrangements<\/a> \u2014 such as remote work, flexible scheduling and compressed workweeks \u2014 can help parents fulfill childcare responsibilities while still meeting job requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many employers report<\/a> that they value flexible practices because of how they can support talent acquisition and employee retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foster mental health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As noted in the Surgeon General report, about 24% of parents have had some form of mental illness and about 6% of parents have had a serious mental illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employers can help parents stay mentally healthy by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n