Making It Work! How to Effectively Manage Maternity Leave Career Transitions: An Employer’s Guide

Making It Work! How to Effectively Manage Maternity Leave Career Transitions: An Employer’s Guide was developed for anyone who employs, leads, manages, trains, coaches or supports pregnant, adoptive and parenting women at work, including but not limited to HR professionals, managers, business owners and career practitioners and coaches. This user-friendly manual will equip you to go beyond legislated requirements and take a proactive, positive approach to managing maternity leave career transitions.

Women make up approximately 50% of Canada’s labour force and account for 58% of post-secondary graduates. Of the working women who do become mothers, 90% will take a maternity leave. However, 36% of new mothers feel that taking maternity leave negatively impacts their opportunity for promotions, career development and career progression. Every workplace can benefit from learning about leading and promising practices for facilitating maternity leave career transitions and women’s career development as a whole.

The guide covers:
Redefining career development, progression and advancement
Before, during and after maternity leave (e.g. career dialogues, comeback coaching, return-to-work plans)
Customizing career plans with flexible work options
Considerations for diverse populations (e.g. adoptive mothers, new immigrant mothers, same-sex mothers)
15 low-/no-cost employer strategies to facilitate employee engagement

Written by a team of workplace psychologists and career development experts at Canada Career Counselling and published by CERIC, the goal of this guidebook, along with the employee version (Making It Work! How to Effectively Navigate Maternity Leave Career Transitions: An Employee’s Guide) is to allow you to understand and address obstacles that prevent your organization and working mothers from realizing their potential.