| In some circumstances, relatives take on childcare | | | | becomes ill. |
| responsibilities and in other cases, children are cared | | | | Dot hesitate asking your employer if you can ease |
| for by nannies, childminders, or placed in day nurseries. | | | | back into work by starting with part-time hours or a |
| While some people are quite vocal in expressing their | | | | flexible schedule. |
| opinions that good mothers give up work to stay at | | | | Have your child visit the carer a few times before you |
| home with their children, there has never been any | | | | start back to work to ease him or her into the new |
| scientific evidence to prove that children are harmed if | | | | situation. |
| their mothers work. Rather, a childs well-being and | | | | Make sure that you provide the carer with plenty of |
| development is far more influenced by the amount of | | | | breastmilk/formula, bottles, nappies, and a change of |
| stress in the family and the quality of the child-care. | | | | clothes, as well as a few familiar toys to comfort your |
| A womans decision to return to work must take into | | | | child. |
| account her and her familys needs. Initially, its a good | | | | Maternity rights legislation has been operating in the UK |
| idea to wait at least three or four months after the | | | | with only minor changes since 1979. Under these rules |
| birth of a baby to return to work to ensure that a | | | | a mother who has worked with the same employer |
| strong parent-child relationship has been established. | | | | for two years and who has stopped working later |
| Securing proper childcare is vital to the success of the | | | | than 11 weeks before the expected due date can take |
| transition back to work. Start early in planning for the | | | | up to 29 weeks leave after the birth and be |
| care of your baby and consider the following points: | | | | guaranteed a return to their previous job. For 18 |
| Interview several childcare providers. Do not hesitate | | | | weeks the mother is financially compensated after |
| to ask plenty of questions. | | | | which any further leave taken is unpaid. In this paper |
| Ask for references, credentials, and certificates of | | | | we use a cohort of 12,000 (pregnancies and) births |
| qualification. | | | | that occurred in the UK county of Avon UK in 1991 and |
| Take a tour of any childcare facility that you are | | | | 1992 to examine the effect of maternity rights on |
| considering. Pay attention to how the other children are | | | | mothers post-birth return to employment decisions. We |
| cared for, the condition and cleanliness of the facility, | | | | aim to disentangle the effects of the terms of |
| and the actions and behaviours of the employees. | | | | maternity rights entitlements from the effects of other |
| Dont feel pressured to choose an option that isnt just | | | | factors (such as household wealth, personal |
| right. You may find that it isn't a good fit for you and | | | | preferences and labour market opportunities) that |
| your child. | | | | influence the timing of amothers return to work. |
| Have a back-up childcare option, in case your child | | | | |