Working From Home And Maternity Leave
By Scott Lindsay
The most common option for soon-to-be mothers in the U.S. is unpaid leave for up to twelve weeks. Yet when you are an at home worker, there may be additional problems you are likely to encounter.
For a new mother who also works from home, there is a great deal of flexibility as to how much time off is taken from work to be with the new baby. As much time as can be afforded in lost wages is available, with the loss being made up either by taking from your savings that you previously built up, or by a partner working to support you. You can also choose to just go without for a time.
But if financial strains mean you cannot take a long period of time off, you can perhaps arrange for a partner or grandparent to help with the child, or perhaps work when the child sleeps. Try and balance the best of both worlds, which may include being with your child as much as possible, yet getting a little work in too.
If you decide to take maternity leave, the big consideration will be how long you decide to take off. If you take just a couple of weeks, then your clients may be able to wait for your return to continue getting their needs met. However, this won”t be possible if you are planning on being away for longer.
A web designer or someone who works in computer repair for instance may have clients who need immediate help. If they cannot get it from you then they will find someone else to take care of them, and once settled in this new relationship they may not want to come back to you.
Day care clients would be the same. If you take a period of six to twelve weeks off from providing your day care then those clients you previously had will have to take their child elsewhere. Children do best with stability and routine, so it should not be surprising if the parents don”t bring their children back.
Even if you make and sell items you may struggle. Your current clients may find they need something and find it from another maker, and there is always the risk that they will like the new product equally as well if not better.
Essentially this means that if you take a prolonged period of time for maternity leave, you may have to start all over again when you return to work. It would be like starting with a brand new business, with no customers, no current work or income, and potentially little to no positive reputation on which to propel your services.
This may not be a problem if you are content to begin advertising again and finding a new or reclaimed client base. It may come down to a choice between money and spending time with your new baby. Since money will never really change you may decide to spend those early weeks with your new baby and think about the business only when you are ready to start again.
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