Friday, July 13, 2012

Making the Most of Maternity Leave




Margaret Saunders shares her expertise with us once again and offers timeless advice for Mum's approaching Maternity leave.
To contact Margaret:
http://www.FamilyAdvice.com.au/






“Perhaps the most effective way to improve breastfeeding rates is to provide longer periods of paid maternity leave. Countries with generous maternity and parental leave policies – such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden – tend to have high breastfeeding rates… Apart from the United States, all developed countries now have laws mandating some form of paid compensation for women after giving birth.”



Some of the Unknowns:

                How many women postpone children because they need to work? If a new mother will be financially supported for one year, will that increase the birth rate, and increase the costs of this program?
                Will there be any corresponding savings, such as those associated with increased breastfeeding rates decreasing medical costs?
                How much room is there for cost savings by putting a cap on eligibility by household income, requiring the mother to have worked a certain number of hours to qualify, etc.?
Continuing to keep it simple, we’ll assume that the unknown costs and savings cancel each other out.





HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MATERNITY LEAVE:





WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TAKING MATERNITY LEAVE:



Having a baby? Then find out about your maternity leave entitlements.

Government-paid maternity leave around the world varies from 68 weeks in Sweden to 39 weeks in the UK and 12 weeks in China to no weeks in the US and Australia.
Last year, there was a lot of talk about the federal government introducing an 18-week paid maternity leave scheme. But there's no funding for the scheme in next year's budget, so where does that leave our mums-to-be?

Can I take leave?
If you have been working full-time or part-time for 12 months with your employer, you are entitled to take up to 52 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. If you're a casual, you need to have worked on a regular basis for 12 months and intend going back to your job. Maternity leave is guaranteed under the law.

Can my partner take leave?
When your child is born, your partner is entitled to take "short paternity leave" for up to a week. If your partner plans on being the primary carer and you are returning to work, then "extended paternity leave" is allowed for up to 51 weeks. But both of you can't be on leave at the same time. If, for example, you have six weeks off after the birth, your partner will only be entitled to 46 weeks when you return to work.

Is the leave paid?
Unless your company has a policy or it's stipulated in your employment contract, maternity leave is unpaid. However, a lot more companies are starting to offer paid maternity leave.

How do I apply?
Check with your employer, but generally you need to give a letter of intent to take leave, supplying your start and finish dates and any dates requested by your partner for paternity leave.
Notice periods vary from four to 10 weeks. If you intend to work up until the birth, you may need to provide a medical certificate indicating you're fit to work. If your baby comes early, notify your employer in writing within two weeks of the birth.

Returning to work
Make sure you give your employer a letter of intent with a return date before you start your leave. If the date changes, notify your work in writing. When you go back to work, it should be to the same job, but if this isn't possible, it must be a similar job.
For more information, visit www.workplace.gov.au. Support paid maternity leave at www.nfaw.org/paid-maternity-leave. .





WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RETURNING TO WORK:

Back to work after baby
By Nicola Conville

Heading back to work after maternity leave? Here are six tips for making a smooth transition.
Returning to work after maternity leave is a big change for any mum and bub. The good news: there is plenty you can do to ease back into the working world. Regardless of your reasons for returning to work, try to avoid feeling guilty – this is just one of many adjustments your family will make over the years, and after a few weeks, things will settle down as a new routine gets established. Here's our advice on making the transition all the more easy.
1.Stay in touch
Don't disappear off the radar when you have your baby. Stay in touch with your boss and colleagues while you're on leave. Depending on how relaxed or conservative your work environment is, you can bring bub in for a visit, or just send an email once in a while to ask how everything is going. Request that any important workplace updates be sent to your home email account while on maternity leave. This helps avoid any big surprises when you go back.
2.Know your rights
Find out what policies your employer has when it comes to being flexible and family-friendly and speak to your union rep about your entitlements. Under Australian law, an employee returning from parental leave is legally entitled to return to the same job they held prior to going on leave. If that job no longer exists, they are entitled to return to a position that is similar in pay and status. For more information, visit www.fairwork.gov.au.
3.Be clear about what you want
It sounds simple, but many people (women especially) shy away from being direct when it comes to work. If you want to work part-time or from home to start with, say so. Speak to your boss about expectations too – if you worked 12-hour days pre-baby and you now wish to leave at 5pm on the dot, make this clear. Ask about carer's leave as well for when your baby gets sick.
4.Managing breastfeeding
You may wish to keep breastfeeding when you return to work, and how easy this will be depends on how organised you are; how old your baby is (a three-month-old needs more feeds than a 12-month-old); and the facilities available to you for expressing and storing milk. You may wish to feed your baby in the morning, leave expressed milk for their carer to give them, and either express at work or wait until you get home to feed your baby (bring breast pads with you as you may have to deal with engorgement and/or leaking). Many employers now provide a dedicated room where new mums can express. Go to a breastfeeding organisation such as the ABA for more tips on this topic.
5.Consider your childcare options
The earlier you start to think about childcare options the better, as waiting lists can be long. The main options are to have your child cared for by a friend or relative; long day care; family day care; and a babysitter or nanny. Ask friends about their experiences, do your research and make an informed decision based on what will be the best choice for you and your family.
6.Rest up
Despite going back to work in increasing numbers, a recent British study found that women still do three times as much housework as their partners. With so much on your plate, it pays to be as organised as possible to make life easier for yourself. Whether that's roping your partner into cooking a few times a week, going to bed an hour earlier each night or hiring a fortnightly cleaner to give yourself a break from the domestic duties. Because if mum is happy, everyone is happy!