Are you a mumpreneur wondering how you are going to navigate parental leave as an entrepreneur? Maybe you are concerned about how you are going to take maternity leave and keep your business going? Or you are wondering if entrepreneurs can take parental leave at all?
Here, Arianna Taboada, MSW, MSPH, perinatal health researcher and author of The Expecting Entrepreneur™ – a book that helps entrepreneurs design parental leave plans that meet their business model and personal needs – shares your key strategies for taking parental leave as an entrepreneur.
*****
The transition into parenthood is one of the most transformational periods of life. It is an inflection point for health, career and economics. There is so much about this life transition that is a universal experience, and yet it is also deeply personal.
As a parental leave consultant to entrepreneurs, I often hear the questions of “where do I start? How do I figure out how to take parental leave in a way that makes sense for me?” While there is no magic silver bullet for putting together the perfect parental leave plan, there are some key considerations.
I’ll offer 4 tips for going about planning a parental leave that meets the realities of your business model and unique personal needs.
Four key strategies for taking parental leave as an entrepreneur
Learn from what others have done
One of the best ways to gather ideas on what leave can look like for you is to talk to other entrepreneurs in your industry or entrepreneurs who have a similar business model. I recommend conducting at least three informal interviews to gather enough data about what seems to work well and what to avoid.
Start with the questions below, and add your own:
- At what point in your pregnancy did you first start thinking about your leave?
- Can you tell me about the parental leave you planned for and what it actually ended up looking like? Details about when your leave started, ended, and the “why” behind any changes would be great to hear.
- What were three systems you put in place to keep things moving without you? (These could include scheduling, content, outsourcing, training your team, automation, etc.)
- Can you tell me about your transition back to work after your leave?
- What, if anything, would you change in retrospect?
- What is your #1 tip for someone who runs a business similar to yours, based on your experience?
Assess any paid time off you have access to
Parental leave benefits vary great by country as well as by whether you are employed by a company, small business, or self employed. It is key to look into what national or local benefits you may have access to. Sometimes, benefits are available universally, other times you have to have paid into them. Checking with your accountant and reviewing the paid leave policies and programs in your jurisdiction is a must!
You can also begin to think through any paid time off that you may be self-funding. This can include a personal or business financial cushion you have built up over time. The cushion can be used to cover business or personal expenses while you are on parental leave, including your salary or take home pay. Reviewing these financial details in depth is often time-intensive, but taking the time to do so before your leave means you will be able to head into parental leave with a clear financial picture, reducing stress greatly.
Explore your childcare options
Among the many choices you will make as a parent, choosing childcare is one of the first tasks you will face. There is no right or wrong choice for childcare, and what works for your family and your work scenario are key factors. Keep in mind that no choice is permanent, you can always change your mind or try something new!
Some of the common options people explore are:
- Nurseries: There may be privately operated and government run options local to you. There are clear regulations about the teacher to child ratio, and may be a limited number of infant slots. Getting on the waitlist for these during pregnancy is typical.
- Nanny: Where the childcare provider typically comes to your home. You may also explore a nanny-share, where 2 families share payment and care. Beginning to search for a nanny 4-6 weeks before the desired start date. There are typically tax implications for hiring this type of help, so remember to consult your accountant!
- Family care: Sometimes a trusted family member or close friend may care for your child. This is often a less formal arrangement, and may not bring up the need for contracts, licensing or regulations. Care may be provided in your home or the person’s home. This option may be more flexible and lower cost, but also involves having clear lines of communication.
Build postpartum support networks for yourself
We have years of evidence, from around the globe, about the positive effects of postpartum support. The benefits of support extend far beyond the immediate postpartum period and through the entire transition into parenthood. Many cultures have a well-established practice of “mothering the mother,” where the social norm is for communities to gather around and tend to the birthing person’s myriad needs during postpartum. Other names for these practices include “postpartum confinement,” “zuò yuè zi” in Mandarin or “cuarentena” in Spanish. Regardless of the name, the goal is the same—to have the birthing person do as little as possible so they can recover from giving birth, bond with their baby, and transition into their new role.
Spend some time thinking about what support you have access to and where you may have gaps that need to be filled. The following questions can help:
- Who do you want around during those first few days after birth?
- What household tasks (running errands, grocery shopping, laundry) can they help with?
- How might you communicate boundaries with well-intentioned family and friends who may want to help but are unsure how?
- What local resources in your community can help with your postpartum transition (everything from emotional support to help with meals)?
- Do you have access to professional support for any physical, mental, or emotional needs that arise (counselor, physical therapist, lactation consultant, etc)?
We hope these tips help you think through key aspects of planning for parental leave as an entrepreneur.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider supporting this site by buying us a virtual coffee.
