Returning Well: A Guide for Working Parents and Their Managers - Paperback

by Kirstie Sneyd (Author)

Axiom Book Awards 2026 Silver Medal winner in the Careers category

There are recognised challenges on returning to work after parental leave, ranging from managing guilt and feeling overwhelmed to dealing with missed career opportunities. There are also changes in the way parents return, with increased working from home and more fathers taking parental leave leading to additional demands such as getting up to speed with changes and dealing with stereotypes from others.

Despite changes in legislation and an increase in workplace policies, progress in supporting parental returners is still limited. Managers often lack the experience, time or skills to effectively manage those returning from parental leave, whilst parental returners may not recognise how they can best support themselves.

This practical, evidence-based guide sees the return to work as a shared responsibility: aimed at professionals who are returning after taking parental leave and managers who are supporting these parental returners. Grounded in psychological research, this book provides examples and practical tools and techniques for new parents to equip themselves for both going on parental leave and returning to the workplace. For managers there is clear guidance and checklists to effectively support these returning parents.

Author Biography

Kirstie Sneyd is an organisational psychologist and executive coach with over 25 years' experience, specialising in behaviour change. This book is based on her psychology research from Birkbeck, University of London and her coaching experience working with parental returners and their managers. Having coached hundreds of professionals through periods of transition, this book draws on Kirstie's practical experience in understanding how to successfully manage through change and maintain a career alongside being a working parent.