The top 10 must-do’s before going on maternity leave
A practical checklist for expectant parents, and a helpful reminder for HR
Preparing for Parental Leave (Maternity Leave/Paternity Leave) can feel daunting. You’re balancing deadlines, shifting responsibilities, and the emotional reality of stepping away from work for a while. And let’s be honest—many soon-to-be parents worry about being replaced, forgotten, or left behind.
Whether you’re navigating maternity leave yourself, or you’re a People Leader supporting someone through it, this checklist offers a structured way to ensure a smooth, professional, and positive transition.
✅ 1. Make the announcement positively
This is a major life milestone, so let it be a proud moment. Whether you’re feeling excited, nervous, or somewhere in between, don’t let guilt or fear overshadow the news. Share your pregnancy with confidence.
✍️ For Employers: The way a manager responds to a parental announcement sets the tone for the entire leave experience. A warm, confident reaction builds trust and psychological safety from day one. If you’re looking to strengthen consistency across teams, consider running a group webinar for managers on how to handle family-related leave conversations with empathy and clarity.
✅ 2. Understand your benefits and entitlements
Don’t rely on second-hand information. Read your company’s maternity/parental leave and flexible working policies carefully. Print them off or save copies to access during your leave. And don’t hesitate to book time with HR to ask questions and clarify what you’re entitled to.
✍️ Tip for HR Teams: Is your maternity or parental leave policy written in plain language, easy to find, and clearly explained? If not, it might be time for a refresh. Hosting it on a platform like the P&P online career management portal ensures employees can access it easily, right when they need it. The portal supports both employees and managers through life and family transitions, offering interactive e-learning, downloadable resources, and step-by-step guidance. It complements coaching with a fully blended learning experience or can be used as a standalone tool to build clarity, confidence, and consistency—before, during, and after parental leave.
✅ 3. Strengthen key relationships
Now’s the time to nurture relationships with your manager, team, and stakeholders. It will make both your departure and your return feel smoother. The stronger your connections, the more confident you’ll feel staying in the loop while you’re away.
✍️ Employer prompt: Proactively encouraging employees to maintain visibility before and after leave helps protect career momentum and ease reintegration. Our Boosting Visibility webinar offers practical strategies to help working parents and carers stay connected, engaged, and confident—without overextending themselves.
✅ 4. Prioritise your wellbeing
Pregnancy can be physically and emotionally demanding. Don’t push through without support. Check in regularly with how you’re feeling and take breaks when you need them.
✍️ Employer prompt: Are you regularly checking in on the wellbeing of expectant employees, and offering flexibility or adjustments where needed? Wellbeing conversations don’t have to be complex, but they do need to be intentional. Our Mental Health and Resilience for Parents and Carers webinar is a great way to open up practical discussions and provide emotional support during this key transition.
✅ 5. Speak to your Health and Safety team
Most companies offer health and safety assessments for pregnant employees. Book a time to speak to the appropriate person, it’s there to protect both you and your baby, and ensure your working environment remains safe.
✍️ Employers tip: Make sure managers know when and how to trigger a health and safety risk assessment for expectant employees, it’s a legal requirement in many regions and an important early gesture of care. Proactive conversations about adjustments to workload, travel, or work environment can go a long way in supporting wellbeing and retention.
✅ 6. Create your maternity handover plan
Start this early. Include key projects, contacts, responsibilities, timelines, and access details. A well-structured handover will help your cover step into the role confidently—and ensure your return isn’t marked by chaos.
✍️ For Employers: Support employees by providing clear handover templates and encouraging them to prepare collaboratively with their maternity cover or wider team. Many of these templates are available on the P&P online career management portal, making the process easier, more consistent, and less stressful for everyone involved.
✅ 7. Manage your professional image
Pregnancy at work comes with challenges, from energy dips to shifting perceptions. Keep a trusted confidante nearby to talk things through but keep conversations with your manager solutions-focused. Flag challenges early and honestly.
✍️ For Employers: The way pregnant employees are perceived and supported can impact confidence and long-term career progression. Equip managers with tools to respond supportively. Our Preparing for Family-Related Leave webinar helps line managers and employees alike have honest, practical conversations that strengthen trust and performance.
Final Thought
Preparing for maternity leave isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about feeling confident, supported, and set up for success. For employees, that means having a plan. For employers, it means having the right culture, tools, and conversations in place.
At P&P, we’re here to help you make leave a positive transition, not just for today, but for long-term engagement and wellbeing.
➡️ Award-winning coaching to navigate parental leave, midlife, and beyond.
➡️ 40+ expert-led webinars & workshops on topics from parental transition to menopause and fertility.
➡️ Practical digital portal to foster balance and wellbeing at work.
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