During the last few weeks in the workplace leading up to parental leave, it’s natural for an employee to feel anxious about the many moving parts of the journey ahead. Your role as a manager is to relieve some of these potential uncertainties and support them through the final stages of work prior to their departure.
Here are three steps you can take:
- Set aside time to have a non-biased and empathetic style conversation with the employee about their final weeks. The discussion should include final logistics, future career plans, and ongoing communication.
- Action and document the conversation for future reference.
- Organize a ‘farewell’ morning tea, lunch, or coffee catch-up during their last few days.
As a manager, you’re responsible for empowering the team member to feel in control and supported in the coming months. This conversation guide will help you both work through the details you need to consider and what outcomes you want from your meetings and the months ahead.
