Having a baby is a wonderful experience. For a lot of young couples, starting a family is a brand new and exciting adventure. Most new parents brace themselves for a dramatic change in lifestyle. No more late nights out is one of the most common rules. Ultimately, when you’ve got a child to care for, you can’t afford to party all night long. Social relationships and friendships are often tested during this period.
However, what parents don’t expect is to struggle in the workplace. Indeed, looking after a baby can be hugely stressful – after all, it’s one of those learn as you go experience – and therefore, it’s not uncommon to hope that the office will help you to feel in control again. Unfortunately, there’s a difficult transition period that can affect your experience at the workplace. Experts and highly active professionals who start a family are the first in line to lose their balance in an office where they used to contribute heavily. Here is why it can be tricky to go back to work as a new mom or dad:
They Don’t Remember The Last Time They Slept
Young babies need to be fed throughout the night. For someone who works all day, your sleep is precious. Waking up several times a night to feed, change, and comfort your baby is an essential part of the parental journey. But it can ruin your sleep and affects your productivity at work. Indeed, your body needs to sleep to recharge its batteries and keep everything ticking. Lack of sleep doesn’t only make you tired. It kills your concentration. You genuinely think slowly when you didn’t rest, and you find it more difficult to connect ideas. So, someone who used to be creative and involved in complex projects at work il likely to struggle with simple concepts as a result. Ultimately, lack of sleep is similar to being drunk, so it’s no surprise that your brain can’t cope!
Babies Get Sick OFTEN
Babies need to develop their immune systems. A minor cold can take a dramatic turn with infants. While it doesn’t mean that every health complaint is a life and death matter, young parents are likely to spend a lot of time with their after-hours GP for reassurance. Flexibility is a no-brainer. Companies that don’t allow remote work are likely to experience a high increase in absenteeism during the first few years. On the other hand, flexible working arrangements can help parents to maintain their work-life balance, and look after their babies while tackling their daily tasks. Additionally, flexible medical assistance can also make things easier. Indeed, you can’t schedule when your baby is going to get sick. Getting access to a doctor even outside of the typical 9-to-5 office hours makes a big difference.
They Can Feel Isolated From Social Routines
Social events and gatherings at work tend to exclude families. As a new parent, keeping in touch with co-workers around an evening drink may not be an option anymore. Additionally, time-involved team-building and party events rarely allow parents to bring their families. As a result, as new parents abandon social events to get back home, they lose their connection to the team.
Companies still have a long way to go to support families. From encouraging flexible time that lets parents work at their own pace to creating family-friendly events, supporting young parents at work is a no-brainer for your business performance.
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