Returning to Work month with DWP

I will have worked for DWP for 25 years. Throughout my career I have worked in the world of Operations and Work Services, joining as an AO and now as an HEO based in London and Essex.

I’ve also been lucky enough to have had 3 children and have had different experiences with each pregnancy whilst working for DWP. In my younger, more energetic years, I never considered taking extra time off or moving to reduced pay, and therefore was back within 18 weeks, which saw me use up some of my accrued leave. I was fortunate to have family to help with childcare and a great manager who ensured that the relevant Risk Assessment took place altering my work duties. After the birth of my second child 16 years later, I found the same to be true apart from the increase in time that we could take off. Being older and wiser, I recognised my desire to take off the entire year in 2018 and repeated this with my third child, returning to work in November 2022.

I was and still am lucky enough to have a manager who trusts and supports me. Having a baby pre and post Covid has been interesting, and I have to say life as a pregnant woman was made so much easier by the very fact that I am permitted to have a laptop. This has meant that on the odd days where my body didn’t want to co-operate, I was able to continue in my role and keep busy thus keeping my mind occupied. I have also been lucky enough to have a brilliant job and team that I looked forward to returning to. With my first child, the break away from the office really helped me when I moved to a completely different role, something I doubt I would have done if I’d not been on leave. I’ve learned through experience that having a purpose or task when you return is vital. Due to this when I returned from my third pregnancy, I made definite changes, which included structured contact timelines and keep in touch days. Luckily for me a new task came up which has enabled me to get stuck right in on my return rather than feel like I’m on the side lines.

Following my return, I was amazed to see my employer had held listening circles on Breastfeeding and after enquiring about this I joined the Women’s Network. Acting as a volunteer I hosted an initial event looking at returning to work after maternity leave, which led to 3 further listening circles aimed at the entire journey – Pregnancy, Return to Work and Being a Parent. This is an open forum where staff get to detail their experiences both good and bad, and through the Women’s Network we will be able to influence policy and procedures.

Author: Julie Hanley, DWP