Challenges of returning to work after parental leave

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Women are entitled to maternity leave six weeks before and up to eight weeks after their due date. After that, parental leave begins—if they have applied for it. Some women don't take parental leave and return to work immediately after maternity leave. This can have several advantages: They don't lose touch and stay on top of their careers, and they experience little or no financial loss.

However, most mothers apply for several months of parental leave after the birth of their child. While there are increasing numbers of men taking advantage of this, it is still primarily women: In 2019, almost a quarter of all mothers whose youngest child is under six years old took parental leave, while only 1.6 percent of fathers took advantage of this option.[1] Parental leave azerbaijan phone number data typically lasts between twelve and 24 months. This is a long time during which a lot can change in the professional world. There are various challenges you will face when returning to work after the break. Therefore, ask yourself the following questions early on:

Do I want to go back to my old job?
What rights do I have after parental leave?
Is my knowledge sufficient to return to my job?
Can I provide childcare?
What is my financial situation?
Reading tip : You can find more information about the challenges and optimal preparation for your return in this article: Returning from parental leave .

Opportunities for returning to work after maternity
There are various options available to you to return to work after parental leave.

You're returning to your current job: Whether part-time or full-time , it's best to talk to your employer before you start parental leave about how you can return to work. Your employer may also be okay with working from home or even allowing you to work remotely .
You continue your training and take on new tasks: With further training after parental leave, you can take on new tasks in your current job and face new challenges.
You are daring to make a new start in your career: With further training, you can also find completely new career paths and look for a new position instead of working for your current employer.
You're starting your own business: Instead of a traditional return to work, you can also become self-employed. Further training can also lay a solid foundation for professional success.
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Further training after or during parental leave
Whichever path you choose, further training increases your chances of a successful return to work. According to a survey, 34 percent of women participated in further training after parental leave, for example to deepen their specialist knowledge and computer skills. Almost two-thirds of those participating in further training programs believe that the training made their return to work easier.[2] Further training is also not a problem while on parental leave. You can study, take further training or advanced training, or complete unpaid training. This is possible even if the job requires more than 32 hours per week.

Even without a vocational qualification, you can still get back into the job market with children. For example, you can complete a part-time apprenticeship, allowing you to easily combine further training with homework. If you earn money while completing an apprenticeship while on parental leave, the training must be limited to 32 hours per week.