Taking a Leave From Your Business? Follow These Steps First
By Chelsea Becker
While I start the 9-week countdown to my due date, one thing is starting to feel heavier than my belly: maternity leave. I run my own freelance business and as much as I think I have a work-life balance, the reality is I spend a lot of time working 50+ hours a week. This was key to building a successful business at first, and it’s always been fine as a person without kids. But it also seems like a hard (read: impossible) pace to plan for while making space for motherhood.
After talking to business owners who were forced to create a makeshift maternity leave and after reading this article…
I came up with six systems to have in place so that I can step away from my work worry-free.
Desired time off
My plan through this pregnancy was to take three weeks off after my son is born. I figured that was all I could afford while keeping clients happy and my income steady. Then I shared that plan with a few other mamas whose jaws literally dropped, all while shaking their heads “nooooo” (followed by a supportive “How can I convince you to take more time away?”)
While not all opinions will work for each situation, I found it invaluable to ask others for advice on when they started feeling decent enough to work (and sit in a chair for longer than a feed). Six weeks was a common minimum for most, so that became my updated plan. No matter how much time you can take off, having an idea certainly helps get the rest into place, so start there!
Delegation
While I already have an assistant who has been with me for years, I’ve asked her to step up her hours from a month before I’m due until eight weeks after I give birth. I’ve also hired a temp to help pick up some of the “busy work” tasks that my assistant won’t have time for during my leave.
Whether it’s bringing in an accountant to run numbers while you’re away, someone more integral to your business, or a house cleaner to take a chore off your plate, I suggest delegating if you can comfortably budget for it.
If you’re not sure where to look, ask your social media family for references, look on the Next Door app for housework duties, and start putting out feelers a few months in advance.
Expectations + canned responses
I’ve started to set up client calls to let people know my maternity plans and how they may be affected by them. And while I’m taking concerns into consideration, I’ve gone into these calls with a clear plan. My clients know who will be handling their work, how long I’ll be away, what I need from them in order for this to flow, and that they have two months to come to me with questions and concerns. To show my appreciation, I’ll be sending a little something to each of them for allowing me this space to adjust to new motherhood.
I also plan to have an ‘out of office’ email that accounts for new business requests, without the need for immediate response. This email will link out to the services and common questions on my website so people can explore and find the answers they need. Depending on your work, it might be smart to create a dedicated FAQ page or add a personal touch via some of the work you’ve done in the past. Finally, I’ll end the email with a date noting when people can expect a response from me (a few weeks after I return).
Banked work
In order not to go silent while you’re out or be unable to produce work, you’ll need to complete tasks in advance. For me, that means writing articles, planning social media posts, and the like.
Depending on your work, take an assessment of all the work that can be pre-planned and start this process 3-4 months in advance. I’m dedicating 5 hours a week, or one hour a day, to filling this content bank. An hour a day doesn’t feel like a serious burden, yet I’m also confident I’m making a dent.
I’m dedicating 5 hours a week, or one hour a day, to filling this content bank. An hour a day doesn’t feel like a serious burden, yet I’m also confident I’m making a dent.
Time buffer
While I’m telling my clients I’ll be back to work after six weeks, I’ve communicated that those first two weeks will be touch-and-go. I’m not sure how I’ll feel and whether or not I’ll be able to fit everything in, so they’re planning on eight and this is what we’re planning on work-wise. And while I’m not counting it as maternity leave, I’m noting the two weeks prior to my due date as a “loose leave” (so trying to lessen the load for those two weeks, like mentioned above).
Deleted apps
I’m assuming stepping away from work is going to be hard. I was the girl checking emails 20 minutes before my wedding, after all. So my plan is to delete Gmail off my phone prior to labor, along with work apps like Slack and Planoly.
I figure by removing these apps, I’ll have to make a conscious decision to reload them when I feel ready. My assistant has my number and will be texting me with any fires. If I choose to come back earlier than planned, I want to allow myself to, but not without jumping through some sort of hoop with intention. Like remembering all my passwords on limited sleep….
