As companies begin to digest Government plans to extend paid maternity leave from six to nine months, Validium, which operates confidential telephone helplines on behalf of many UK companies, is urging businesses to review how they integrate mums back into work following a surge in calls from worried mums.
The call comes as the company, which is one of the UKís leading employee assisted programme providers (EAP) has experienced increased calls from mums returning to work after an absence of more than six months. Employers are also reporting an increased concern in anxious mums.
The most common areas of concern mums experience are fear of change in the work place, separation anxiety, guilt, lack of confidence, low self-esteem and general stress.
ìAny changes which benefit mums have got to be welcomed but, since the Government introduced extended leave from 13 weeks to six months (8 years ago), weíve received a greater volume of calls from working mums. Equally, weíve had employers seeking our help on what they should be doing to make it easier. Itís the length of absence which seems to be the sticking point,î said Anne Payne Director, Validium.
ìOur advice is for companies to introduce a phased return to work. For example, make sure mums are sent company literature and updates on whatís going on at work when they are off. Invite them to return on a reduced working week, or reduced hours, for an agreed period and make sure they donít simply have their work dumped back on their desk as soon as they return. When someoneís been off itís usually a great relief to colleagues when they are back but when weíre all busy itís very easy to just off-load the work, assuming that the person is up to speed with whatís going on.
ìItís simple procedures which need to be put into practice to ensure mums donít feel overwhelmed when they come back to workî.
Paid maternity leave is one element of a package of proposals for mothers currently under consideration by the Department for Trade and Industry.
Further information on Validium is available from
Mums the word
Validium is urging businesses to review how they integrate mums back into work following a surge in calls from worried mums
