Megan H. 

Employer Brand Co-op

Toast has previously been named a Best Workplace for Parents- and even the croutons (our Toasty nickname for kids) have shared their thoughts in this video! 

But this time, we chatted with some members of our Toast Parents community and here are their top 10 tips for other parents returning to work after parental leave:

1. Be Kind to Yourself! 

Returning to work can be a difficult adjustment, so treating yourself with kindness during this time is essential. No matter the circumstances, you might feel guilty and overwhelmed about leaving your little one or getting back into the swing of things at work. As mothers, we are often hardest on ourselves, and it’s crucial to allow yourself some grace during this adjustment period. It’s also wonderful to see your little one’s face light up when you come home at the end of the day.   

2. Remind yourself that things will be different - and that's okay.

It sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget and feel frustrated when you expect work-life balance to be the same as before. You'll be juggling new parenting responsibilities alongside work, and some days will go smoothly while others will be pure chaos. (Think: one-hand-typing while holding a bottle because daycare was cancelled, meetings with baby spit-up somewhere on your shirt, and the occasional mid-day existential crisis.) Give yourself grace. For us, sitting down on Sunday mornings to plan out the week has been a game-changer. It helps me go into Monday feeling somewhat prepared instead of just hoping for the best. 

3. Speak Up! 

Be upfront with your manager about your needs and how your work-life balance is shaping up. You are your (and your croutons) number-one advocate, and you can’t expect help without speaking up. I consider myself lucky to work for a company like Toast that supports work-life balance for all of its employees and does what it can to help families thrive. It is important to remain honest with your manager and team about your needs and what will make you successful now that you are back at work.        

4. Set boundaries early.

Chat with your manager and team about your schedule, workload, and any flexibility you might need. Setting clear expectations from the start can make the transition smoother and help you balance work and family life.

5. Communication is the key to success! 

My wife and I both work full time and went back on the same day so the transition came at us hard and fast!  Who is responsible for drop off and pick up on any given day?  Who is shopping and cooking dinner?  Who is going to take care of the truly absurd amount of laundry that this tiny human generates?  When your child gets called out of daycare for being sick (if you’re a first time parent and sending them to daycare buckle up!) who has the bandwidth to step away from work for the day to care for your child?  As long as you communicate effectively then you’ll do great, but if you don’t it can really put a strain both on your work life and personal life which no one wants.

6. Be fully present while off the clock. 

This one was really hard for me, particularly considering I’m in a quota carrying sales role.  You’re coming off of 16 weeks where you didn’t have any responsibilities from a work standpoint, so when coming back it’s so important to make sure you’re setting clear boundaries for yourself and you’re leaving work at work at the end of the day.  You owe that to your child, your partner and also to yourself.  So many changes happen in the first year of your child’s life, make sure you’re slowing down and soaking in every precious moment!

7. Don't try to read all unread Slack messages. 

It's unrealistic to try and keep up with so much context while you're out. If you feel like you need an update, ask someone for a summary of what discussion(s) took place.

8. Create a "parental leave" folder in your inbox.

Move every email from your leave into the folder. Coming back to a full inbox is overwhelming enough without seeing a sea of unread messages staring you down. Out of sight, out of mind (at least temporarily)! Then, block off time over the first few weeks to sift through that folder at your own pace. No need to start your first day back by drowning in emails. 

9. It is okay to lean on your co-workers.

Work that you did so easily before you went on leave, may not feel the same when you return. It doesn't mean you're not good enough anymore, it doesn't mean you're not good at your job. It just means things have changed within you. Priorities shift, brain chemistry changes, and you are sleep deprived. It's okay to give yourself space to learn how to grow back into your role and reevaluate how work fits into your life. 

10. Be intentional with your calendar and how you block your time.

Your routine may not be the same as it was prior to your leave, and that's ok. Finding your new normal is key and time management is a huge component of that.

Thank you to some of our Toaster parents for providing their best tips!

Casey G., Customer Success Manager II

Stephanie S., Sr. Program Manager, Talent Development

Charlie C., Sales Development Manager

Isabelle B., Regional Vice President, Field Sales

Brit H., Senior Designer

Ryan P., Senior Software Engineer

Leona D., Principal, Revenue Strategy & Operations