240: The Parental Leave Playbook with Dr. Amy Beacom and Sue Campbell

The world of parental leave is difficult to navigate. Understanding your rights, options, and the law can be incredibly confusing. How do you prepare for taking leave, being out on leave, and returning to work? It’s important to look at this issue collaboratively to make it a supportive situation for both the individual and the organization, and better family outcomes follow when BOTH parents have parental leave options. Join us for a closer look! Dr. Amy Beacom is the founder and CEO of the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, the first full-service consultancy in the US to focus exclusively on parental leave. She conceived of and began developing the field of parental leave coaching and consulting in 2006. Drawing on over 25 years in executive leadership, development, and coaching, Amy consults with Fortune 500 companies, international organizations, working parents, and more, to transform the way companies and our country engage with a parental leave transition. Amy is the co-author of The Parental Leave Playbook: 10 Touchpoints to Transition Smoothly, Strengthen Your Family, and Continue Building Your Career.  Another guest today is Sue Campbell, the co-author of The Parental Leave Playbook. She is a writer, author, and coach who has worked with the Center for Parental Leave Leadership since its early days, helping to communicate the transformative impact of their core mission. Her writing, often focused on issues important to parents, has been published in many outlets, including Prevention, Good Housekeeping, Scary Mommy, and Mamalode.  Show Highlights: How Dr. Amy and Sue came to this work surrounding parental leave through their journey into motherhood Why their book is the only resource of its kind How Sue came into the work around parental leave because of a difficult transition to parenthood Why parental leave is a systemic issue that employers need to address Why there is real clash in views about parental leave  Why there are murky layers to figuring out what parental leave is available (Fact: FMLA is NOT paid leave and is not guaranteed to everyone.) Why their book is written for employees as a “coach in your hand” but applies to managers and HR supervisors also Why parental leave is a time frame that should be prepared for and planned well Why collaboration between managers and employees is vital around parental leave Why grace and kindness are needed regarding parental leave policies An overview of the ten touchpoints from the book in the three phases of parental leave Why the book is 100% applicable to each partner–every parent who is welcoming a child Why equity in caregiving leave for EVERY parent will help remove the unconscious bias in hiring decisions and promotional decisions in the workplace How perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are decreased when parental leave is in place for BOTH parents Words of hope for parents from Dr. Amy and Sue   Resources: Connect with the Center for Parental Leave Leadership: Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Get the book by Dr. Amy and Sue: The Parental Leave Playbook: 10 Touchpoints to Transition Smoothly, Strengthen Your Family, and Continue Building Your Career.   Visit www.postpartum.net for resources! Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course. Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!