Approaching the boss about maternity leave

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Carol wants the low down on maternity leave and how to raise the issue with the boss. Firstly, congratulations Carol. You're entitled to 52 weeks unpaid maternity leave if you'll have completed a year of service by the day of your baby's birth. So you could conceivably (excuse the pun) have been with an employer for only three months and still be eligible.

Many women store up paid annual leave too to give them extra time with their baby. Some companies provide paid maternity leave but they are not legally required to. When you return to work, you are entitled to a job comparable in status and on the same pay as the one you have now. Before talking to the boss, work out your estimated dates of leaving and returning. As I understand it, you can nominate a return date and change it once during your maternity leave.

Talk to HR about policies or benefits specific to your company as well as ask other women for tips. Also ask other women for good 'return to work' ideas. Should you arrange a work briefing or receive staff newsletters just prior to returning? Could this be a good way to get you up to speed? Armed with all this info, make a meeting time with the boss and lay it all out. Hopefully, this will sound efficient and reassuring. Australia has a rapidly aging population and that also means an aging workforce.

As a society, we want women to have children and we want them to stay in the workforce so employers should be supportive. Some bosses focus only on how things will impact on them so being well informed yet unapologetic (but nice) about your baby news is the approach to take.

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By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au

For more useful tips read the other stories in the  Ask Kate Archives , Kate's Blog and Kate's Resource Library.