How to Plan for Parental Leave as an Independent Contractor

When you run your own business, taking parental leave can be a scary prospect. Without set guidelines or a reliable paycheck, having to budget for time off, set expectations with clients, and work-head on projects is daunting. Nevertheless, one of the benefits of running your own business is the freedom to structure projects around your personal life, set boundaries with clients, or partner with other consultants to help manage your workload.

With the right planning and forethought, taking time off for parental leave is absolutely feasible for independents. If you’re an independent parent considering taking parental leave, here’s how you can best prepare, overcome common concerns, and successfully return to work.

1. Plan as Much as You Can

Having a plan in place when taking parental leave is of particular importance for independents, as you typically work alone and are responsible for running your own business. Planning how you will complete current projects, pay bills, and notify your clients are key components in preparing to take time off.

2. Review Your Financial Options

Under the Family Medical Leave Act, parents can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a new child, yet this law only applies to those who work at a company of at least 50 employees and only 6% of all employers offer full pay during leave. That means most small business owners and independent contractors are on their own when it comes to taking and financing parental leave.

To financially prepare, decide approximately how much time you’d like to take off and set a budget for those weeks or months. To boost your income in the prior months, you may consider taking on additional work, cutting back on expenses, or raising your rates.

3. Assess Your Current Project Workload

Take a look at your current projects, tasks, and responsibilities and think through what you can complete in advance, what you can automate, and what you may need a subcontractor, part-time assistant, or virtual assistant to help out with.

“There are many steps involved in creating a leave plan,” explains Georgene Huang, CEO and co-founder of Fairygodboss, a career community website created by women for women to share their workplace experiences. “For self-employed professionals especially, I would recommend taking a look at each of your projects and business functions, and think through what needs to be done: What are the deadlines?

What is the workload? Is this an ongoing client or a one-time project? It’s important to note if your work is client-based, this could vary from client to client.”

4. Consider Bringing in Extra Help

At the end of the day, no matter how much preparation you do, you may find there are certain tasks you’ll need assistance with. Whether you engage a virtual assistant to respond to emails or bring on another independent to run small projects, an extra set of hands can give you and your clients peace of mind.

“Hiring someone that you trust to be a temporary ‘you’ in whatever your business is may alleviate clients reaching out directly. If hiring someone, you could also consider having a weekly call with that person to discuss any issues or concerns, and to keep a pulse on the business,” Huang suggests.

5. Create a Plan for Communication

Creating a communication plan and considering the expectations you want to set with clients is an important part of preparing for your leave. While it may be inevitable that a client or two will reach out with questions or something that needs your attention while you’re out, a communication plan can help set boundaries from the start.

6. Loop in Your Clients

Once you have a leave plan set, start thinking about the best way to inform your clients. Explaining your plan and thought process to clients will help to reassure them that you are well-prepared and that they are well cared for.

“By clearly defining a timeline and expectations, clients will feel better knowing that you have thought through what needs to be done and when. Communicating with them is paramount to making this all work,” Huang says.

7. Return to Work Slowly

Returning to work after leave can be a difficult transition. In fact, 78% of parents working as traditional, W-2 employees say they considered not returning to their company after having their first child, and 59% say they are likely to switch employers.

When returning to work, take advantage of the flexibility that independence provides. While you may want to prioritize high-value projects and clients, if you do find you need more time, don’t be afraid to take it.

“Work can seem overwhelming when returning from leave and can oftentimes be emotional. It’s a huge transition, but with every day you’ll figure out what balance works for you,” Huang says.