After a year away on maternity leave, Catriona has recently returned to our team — and we’re delighted to have her back!
Donna and Catriona sat down to chat about her experience returning to work after maternity leave, sharing words of wisdom for others making the transition back to work, as well as advice for line managers on how they can best support team members returning from maternity leave.
Donna: We’re delighted to have you back but we’re interested to hear how your experience has been overall since your return?
Catriona: It’s definitely been an adjustment. I’ve had to get used to a whole new set of responsibilities, from getting ready for work each day to managing the logistics of having two young children, getting them out the door and to their various childcare settings.
At the same time, I’ve been getting back into the swing of things at Quensh—remembering my role and managing a range of clients and supporting my team members . I’ve also had to catch up on HR updates and legislative changes. A lot has happened in the HR field over the past year, so it’s been important to reacquaint myself with the industries we support and understand the challenges they’re currently facing.
Donna: How did it feel stepping back into the role after a year away?
Catriona: In many ways, it felt like I was relearning something I already knew.
I also felt like I was coming back to myself. When you’ve been away from work for any length of time—particularly during maternity leave, when so much of your focus is on looking after and caring for a very young child—your whole world naturally revolves around that responsibility.
You don’t necessarily spend much time thinking about your career or the professional side of your life. Coming back to work can feel like coming back to yourself as well, you’re not losing yourself too much. It reminds you that your work is also a part of your identity and who you are as a person.
I’ve really enjoyed being back.
Donna: In terms of the support you received from the team and the wider business, is there anything you think we could have done differently to support you while you were away?
Catriona: No, I don’t think so. In fact, I would say my experience of maternity leave and returning to work has probably been quite different from the experiences many of my peers have had.
I have an incredibly supportive team around me, and I was welcomed back with open arms. I think there was even a countdown clock until my return!
Overall, I’ve had an extremely positive experience. Returning to work after becoming a mother—or being away for a period of time—can be incredibly daunting. You don’t necessarily always know where you’ll fit in when you come back, or whether people will pull up a chair or close the door.
For me, however, it has been a very positive experience, and I genuinely don’t think there’s anything my workplace could have done differently. The connection I had with my colleagues throughout my leave made a huge difference.
What I would say is that organisations sometimes feel they shouldn’t contact employees while they’re on maternity leave. They may worry about disturbing them or adding unnecessary pressure. My message would be: be open, be communicative, and include those individuals as much as you can because it is really difficult to return sometimes.
Donna: In terms of Keeping in Touch (KIT) days, I know we were keen to offer those and, thankfully, you agreed to take part. Did you find them useful?
Catriona: Yes, I definitely did.
I really enjoyed coming in from time to time. It gave me a little break from the day-to-day routine of childcare, and it was lovely to catch up with everyone and help out where I could.
Keeping in Touch days allow you to dip your toe back into the workplace, and they’re a great opportunity to see how everyone is getting on. I don’t think they necessarily need to be overly formal, nor do you have to have a specific piece of work planned for someone to complete.
I think they work best when they’re used in the spirit they were intended—for simply keeping in touch.
Donna: I’ve spoken to a number of women throughout my career, and confidence can sometimes take a bit of a dip when returning to work. Do you have any words of wisdom for others who are returning, or are close to returning, from maternity leave?
Catriona: One of the main things I would say is to ask for support if you need it. People are generally very understanding and are often keen to help make the transition back into the workplace as smooth as possible for both you and the business.
As parents, we often take on a lot of responsibility and burden ourselves and struggle on. I think that’s especially true for mums returning to work. There can be a lot of mixed emotions involved. Being open with your employer about how you’re feeling and the support you need can really go a long way.
I also think it’s important to have confidence in yourself. Remember, you successfully did the role before you left. You may return to a slightly different role—that can happen—but you’re still the same person. It might take a little time to find your rhythm again. I’ve certainly had a few hiccups in the three weeks since I’ve been back!
Be confident in yourself and your abilities, they haven’t gone anywhere.
Donna: What advice would you give to line managers who are supporting someone returning to work after maternity leave?
“Being open with your employer about how you’re feeling and the support you need can really go a long way.”
Donna: Is there anything around the pressures or the challenges of returning that we haven’t explored?
Catriona: No, I don’t think so. I think it is just important to understand that it’s quite a shift returning to work after maternity leave and trying to manage all of the childcare responsibilities as well as manage work responsibilities. It can sometimes take individuals a few weeks to settle back in and find that routine.
For me personally, I’m a very organised person and I’m used to juggling multiple responsibilities at once. Even so, I’ve found it challenging to get back into the routine I had before I went on leave. Don’t be concerned if it’s taking that little bit of time just to get things back into the swing of things and it’s important that employers are supportive during this adjustment period.
Donna: Any support or initiatives that you think might be useful for businesses to consider in terms of encouraging colleagues back to work?
Catriona: I think creating opportunities for family inclusion can make a real difference. Things like family events, family days, and being open to visits from employees with their children can help people feel connected to the workplace while they’re away and during their return.
Even something as simple as welcoming a parent into the office with their baby to say hello, attend a celebration, or mark a colleague’s leaving event can be incredibly meaningful. It’s about breaking down some of the barriers that returning parents can often feel exist between their family life and their working life.
In my experience, organisations often get back what they give. If a business demonstrates that it’s family-friendly, flexible, and understanding of the realities that many employees are managing outside of work, I think you’d end up seeing a lot more back in terms of productivity from returning mothers.
It’s also important to remember that support shouldn’t focus solely on mothers. Fathers, partners, and adoptive parents often miss out on significant moments during a child’s first year because their leave entitlements are typically much shorter. Providing flexibility and understanding for all parents is equally important.
You don’t necessarily need to have like a structured policy or procedure in place. It’s all about being open and communicative. And I think that really does help drive motivation and productivity, and also helps employee retention as well.
Watch the full Q&A below:
To find out more or to speak with one of our specialists – email info@quenshspecialists.co.uk or call us on 01358 788094.
