US Transport’s Post

I came back from maternity leave at the beginning of April after 10 months of nurturing my baby and learning how to become the best mum I can be for him. I came back full time. It wasn't an easy transition and there were many days I wanted to give up, leave work and go back to my long morning walks, endless trapped naps and nursery rhymes. Because that was my happy place like I had never known any other before. But what I didn't know is that I also had to learn how to embrace my new identity: I was living in a constant emotional rollercoaster, but I was genuinely good at my job once and I was determined to become better on my return. Not all at once, of course. If I've learnt anything in the past few months it's the importance of taking one day at a time, of setting small achievable goals and to trust my gut. And here we are: I've been integrating the skills and experiences gained during maternity leave in my professional life, and I am CONFIDENT in my abilities and the unique perspective I bring to my role as a working parent. ~ In addition to the old silly waffly me that still shines in the background 😄 ~ On the slim chance you’re still reading... This is the reflection I want to share to finish my essay: Returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support (thanks to all the Simply Commerce team, you've been amazing!) we can successfully navigate this transition and thrive in our professional roles.

I returned to work this week from my maternity “sabbatical” as i like to call it. I knew having twins and a toddler would be challenging, but in the past 5 months I was pushed to the limits and tested. Most days I smiled, some days I cried, but every day i learned something new about myself and my abilities. Some things i learned: - PRIORITIZE YOUR TIME WISELY - DIVIDING YOUR ATTENTION IS HARD AND CREATES MORE STRESS. YOU WILL BE LESS STRESSED IF YOU FOCUS ON ONE THING (baby) AT A TIME - A CLEAN WORKSPACE (house) IMPROVES YOUR PERFORMANCE - CREATE A PROCESS, FOLLOW IT, AND CHANGE IT OFTEN TO ADAPT - YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE. ASK FOR HELP - IT’S NO ONES FAULT. WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION - SOMETIMES, ALMOST ALWAYS, THINGS DON’T GO AS PLANNED, AND THAT’S OK - MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF. A GOOD HEAD SPACE ALLOWS YOU TO BE BETTER AT EVERYTHING - IF YOU ARE FEELING OVERSTIMULATED, TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK - PEOPLE ARE NOT MIND READERS. COMMUNICATION IS KEY - BABY SNUGGLES HEAL EVERYTHING I am fortunate to work for a company that allowed me to take 5 months of paid leave to care for my babies and grow personally and professionally. I will miss these faces so so much, but I can’t wait to apply everything I’ve learned!

❤️ Personal accomplishment and gratitude post ❤️ Celebrating my 1st anniversary at Barossa Village has been an extraordinary journey, disregarding the belief that one year is too short for celebration. This past year has been nothing short of exceptional! I embarked on a big career move when I was four months pregnant with my second child, openly sharing the news of severe pregnancy complications during my interview. Despite the challenges ahead, the team emphasised the importance of finding the right fit, assuring me we could navigate any hurdles together and prioritising my wellbeing before work demands. Upon accepting the role, my professional journey took an unconventional path. Balancing working from home, adjusting hours, and incorporating maternity leave, I prioritised family and personal health. This past year, marked by numerous hospital stays, specialists, and caring for my newborn baby through intense surgery and recovery, has been more than I thought I could handle! Thank you to the incredible support of my family and the exceptional leadership from Benjamin Hall and the staff at Barossa Village. The promises made during my interview were not mere words; they translated into meaningful actions. I felt valued not only for my work but as a person, allowing me to navigate challenges and achieve accomplishments I am proud of. As I look forward to a more normalised year🤞, I share my story to inspire others. Despite leaving a higher-paying job with a large marketing team, taking on the role of a single marketer for a community-based nonprofit organisation proved to be a fulfilling decision. The challenges, both personal and professional, seemed daunting from the outside. Still, the experience has reinforced the importance of not settling for a job that doesn't value your wellbeing. Most importantly, my baby girl is thriving 💗, a testament to the journey's success. This past year has taught me the importance of prioritising values over external perceptions and the immense impact a supportive workplace can have on personal and professional growth. Here's to celebrating milestones, overcoming challenges, and embracing a future filled with continued success and fulfilment! #careergrowth #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment #achievements #gratitude #success

Returning to work from maternity leave has been very confronting. In many ways, I feel like I’m starting at a brand new company which is a bit jarring considering I’ve been with his company for almost 5 years 😳. But I’m turning this around to be a positive and taking advantage of this unique position I’m in. Some things that I’m doing: ✅ Taking it slow. My hands are itching to get back into the work but getting back into the weeds is just going to get me into the same rat race I was in before and I’ll miss an opportunity to see the big picture and find where I can be most helpful. ✅ Checking in with stakeholders. What’s working and what’s not? What does the team need? Where can I be the most impactful when diving back in? A lot has changed over the last 5 months and this is a great moment to check back in to make sure that we’re working with our stakeholders and as a team as effectively and efficiently as possible. ✅ Re-aligning with company priorities. I went on maternity leave in the middle of a team transition from tactical to strategic and in that time, the company focus changed. I need to take the time to make sure that as a team we’re working on more strategic projects and that those projects are helping the company reach its goals. What has helped you get back into work after time off? 

"Twixtmas" refers to the period between Christmas Day (December 25th) and New Year's Day (January 1st). During Twixtmas, people often find themselves in a lull, with the hustle and bustle of Christmas winding down, and preparations for New Year's celebrations yet to begin. It can be a time for relaxation, reflection, and perhaps spending time with family and friends before the New Year festivities kick in. It captures the in-between nature of the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve. This is perhaps a time you want to reflect on the year gone by and the year to come. Its a great time to set new goals and plan holidays, get togethers and search for a new job. Gaia is fully operational at Twixtmas, taking time to chat to our candidates regarding their career objectives for the New Year. Experts in Occupational Health, Functional Assessments and Case Management roles, we are able to provide expert advice on developing your career or taking your first steps into a new career. If you would like a chat regarding your clinical future - call us on 03301180612 or email hello@gaiarecruitment.com #gaiarecruitment #wearegaia #healthcarerecruitment #nursejobs

As today is Protect Line's 14th Birthday, I thought in true fashion I would name 14 things I love about working for our forward thinking company ✨ 1) THE PEOPLE! If I asked every single person in this business what their favourite thing about PL would be, I can guarantee 90% of them would say the people. They are Hard working, questionably funny & super passionate. 2) The earning opportunities, we pay our sales execs to to protect families and safe guard lives! how rewarding is that both professionally and financially 🤑 3) Our Life & Loyalty Benefits - enjoy birthday leave, extra holiday days, and paid days off for important life moments like getting married or buying a house. 4) our SOCIAL PARTIES! in all my years (I've had a fair few) I've never attended such well put together parties. We do it in style, from Ibiza to Gatsby we smash it Every. Single. Time. 5) The fact that we don't work weekends or bank holidays! knowing that we all smash it during the week and can relax and unwind (or go on a shopping spree with our hard earned cash) is bliss. 6) That they listen, I think this is a super important one, ideas normally go on deafs ear with companies. But not us, they are always open to feedback on what they can do to make this an even better place to work. 7) The internal opportunities, this one is close to my heart after I started in sales myself and had the opportunity to move over to Recruitment. The world's your Oyster here! 8) The fact that we don't ask that you have ANY prior sales experience to work here, show us your dedication, passion & drive! we absolutely love it. 9) Our award winning training programme - we are here to set you up with the best chance of success. 10) Our Platinum Pathway - clear steps, increasing your basic salary, and adding some amazing perks. Think car allowance, cleaner, dog walker, more holiday...you name it! 11) They take great care with their employees - celebrating Valentines day and their birthdays, today we have a Raffle organised by them with 14 insane prizes! 12) Surely a HUGE one is the Product we Sell, we are Protecting Lives, taking the financial burden away from families. Name a product you could be more passionate about selling! 13) our RAF scheme - easy money by providing a name & number, it's simple. 14) Last but not least our Beautiful Bella our Perfect little office dog - she brightens up our day! Happy PL Birthday Jo Brewer & David Brewer! 🎈 . Here's to another 14 years & many more after that. Keep doing what you are doing as you are smashing it 🧡 #lovewhereyouwork #birthday #recruitment #worklife #happiness #workculture #sales

World is changing...

I am now almost two months back at work after my third maternity leave. Here are a few learnings from being on leave and returning to work this time around: ⭐ As important as time off with your baby is, it's equally important to stay engaged with your company and colleagues if you plan to return there. Stay in touch from time to time and don't save all your KIT days until the last few weeks. ⭐ Your decision to return to work and when is yours and yours alone. Do what is right for your family and don't let others make you feel guilty. ⭐ Be fully present when you have time with your baby. Give them all of your attention because they are small babies for such a small time. ⭐ Be present when you have time away from your baby. It is so important to have a break from being Mum so enjoy it. ⭐ Time management and planning ahead is so important to minimise stress and anxiety. ⭐ Be kind to yourself, having a baby and the sleepless nights that come with it is a big deal. ⭐ Be open and honest with your company about what you need from them but also what they can expect from you. Your life has changed now so it's important to acknowledge that. There are millions more things too but these are my top few and I would love to hear what your learnings would be too if you have returned to work recently? #WorkingMum #ReturnToWork #MaternityLeave

Returning to work after maternity leave was both exciting and challenging. Was it easy? No, not at all. It's been an incredible journey of self-discovery, balancing family life, and pursuing my career passions. During this time, I've learned the importance of self-compassion, setting boundaries, and having a strong support system in place. It wasn't always easy, but I've returned to the workplace feeling more empowered than ever. For all the working moms out there, remember that taking that maternity leave doesn't mean you're taking a step back. It's a pause to recharge and come back stronger. Your journey is unique and valuable. 💖 Let's share our experiences and support each other on this incredible path of motherhood and career growth. 🤗🌷 #WorkingMom #MaternityLeave #CareerGrowth PS: What emotions did you have when returning back to work?

When Alise began her maternity leave, it was a reminder of the critical role she plays in our company. Her absence highlighted the vast amount we accomplish for our clients, and it was a period of both challenge and opportunity for our team. Fortunately, we had proactively documented around 90 procedures that form the foundation of our processes at Marketing Intent. This meticulous preparation proved invaluable as we navigated Alise’s responsibilities, ensuring our clients continued to receive the high level of service they expect. Stepping into Alise’s shoes was a humbling experience that underscored the depth of her contributions. While it was challenging, it was also rewarding to see how well we could adapt. Our unique model at Marketing Intent enabled Alise to enjoy her time with her family, confident that her responsibilities were in capable hands. At Marketing Intent, we understand that maternity leave should be seen as a brief interlude, not as a disruptor to the company or to Alise's career. While we greatly value our work, our clients, our team and the financial benefits our work provides us, we also know that our personal lives are paramount and serve as the foundation to everything we do. At Marketing Intent, we understand the complexities of the marketing landscape. Alise’s maternity leave has strengthened our abilities even more. If you need marketing assistance, contact us at Marketing Intent. Let's discuss how we can support your goals. #MarketingIntent #TeamStrength #ClientSuccess #WorkLifeBalance