Absence & Return to Work
Return from Parental Leave Interview
A return from parental leave interview is held with an employee who is about to come back, or has just come back, after maternity, paternity, adoption or other parental leave. It lets you update them on what changed, agree on a realistic schedule and workload, and talk about their place in the team and their development. Done well, it prevents a quiet loss of confidence and of good people. Here are the questions, in the order of a natural conversation.
17 questions
When to use this template
- A few weeks before the planned return date, so that schedule and practical points are settled in advance.
- During the first week back, to check that the plan works in practice.
- About one to three months after the return, as a follow-up once the new routine has settled.
- For every parent returning from leave, whatever their gender, so that the process is the same for everyone.
Questions to ask
Looking forward to the return
- 01How are you feeling about coming back?
- 02What are you most looking forward to, and what are you least sure about?
- 03Is there anything you would like to know before your first day?
Catching up on what changed
- 04Which changes in the team, the projects or the company would you like me to walk you through?
- 05Who would be the best people to help you catch up in the first weeks?
- 06Is there anything that happened while you were away that you would like to understand better?
Schedule and organisation
- 07What working pattern would suit you best for the first months?
- 08Are there constraints, such as childcare hours or commuting, that we should plan around?
- 09Would a gradual return, or some flexibility in where or when you work, be useful to you?
- 10How would you like us to handle urgent situations outside your usual hours?
Role, workload and development
- 11Which parts of your role would you like to pick up straight away, and which more gradually?
- 12Is there a project or responsibility you would like to take on in the coming months?
- 13How do you see your career here over the next year or two?
- 14Is there any training or support that would help you feel up to date?
Staying in touch
- 15What would help you feel part of the team again?
- 16When shall we meet again to see how things are going, and how often?
- 17What can I do to make the transition easier for you?
Tips for a useful conversation
- Have the conversation before the return and again after it: the first settles the plan, the second tests it.
- Ask the same questions of every parent, and let the person decide how much of their family situation to share.
- Keep the focus on working arrangements and development; plan the schedule together rather than imposing it.
- Write down what was agreed, including the review date, and share it with the employee.
- Make sure the employee is kept in the loop on promotions, projects and training discussions that they might otherwise miss.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming that someone coming back from parental leave wants fewer responsibilities, or less ambition, without asking.
- Asking about future family plans or other private matters. Stay with the work and the arrangements that serve it.
- Leaving the employee to find out alone what changed during the leave.
- Having only one conversation before the return and never checking whether the arrangements work.
Let Passisto People hold these conversations
The AI agent holds structured voice conversations with your employees and gives managers a clear report. People decide what happens next.