Returning to Work After Paternity Leave: 7 Expert Tips to Keep in Mind

BDG:Shutterstock I found it tough and confusing to go back to work after the birth of my child. On one hand, I found parts of office life somewhat absurd in the face of my important new role at home: So many meetings of questionable merit, for example, didn’t stand up to scrutiny. I still wanted to be at home, where I was really needed. But I also found that I was able to focus on my work and do it well with a new sense of clarity and purpose. I didn’t have time to waste; I found that decisions were easier to make. Being at work was oddly refreshing. But every father’s journey is different. And every father faces different challenges when coming back to work. Some in more conservative workplaces battle the stigma, from other coworkers, that child caregiving is solely a mother’s work. Others are dealing with something much simpler: Trying to be productive in the face of a paltry amount of sleep. So, how should you approach coming back to work after paternity leave? What’s the best way to get back to it without feeling like you’re miles behind everyone else? Here, with help from family leave experts, are seven ways to put your best foot forward when you return to work. 1. Make a Plan in Advance Your return to work will be made much easier if you’ve already set up a plan for how you’ll take up your prior duties — and/or acquire new ones. It’s crucial to have those conversations with your boss and coworkers before you take leave. “This does two things,” says David G. Smith, autho…