How often should you stay in touch while on mat leave?

[Tartarjungle]

Hoping someone can advise how often you are supposed to keep in touch while on mat leave? Had ds two months ago and haven't been in touch with work (including not even switching on blackberry) other than to call and let them know ds had been born. I have been loving just being a mum but I'm now nervous that I should have been responding to emails, calling my boss and generally showing an interest. Is there a protocol for this? I'm sure I'll get back into work when I go back just worried about jeopardising my future career by not keeping in touch now.

You're not obliged to do much. I have been off all year, back on monday . my approach was to have chats every other week or so with someone I really like in the office, so was more of a social chat and catchup rather than worky work. My boss I checked in with every couple of months, either chat on phone or over lunch (in pub with baby!)

But I definitely kept it to verbal updates rather than doing email etc, as that's the quickest way to stay up to speed without getting embroiled in actually doing work.

Please do stay off the email. If you end up responding, people with thnk you are up for working, and you are on maternity LEAVE. Depending on how long you are going to be off, when baby gets a bit older you will struggle to do work anyway, especially if you've got one that doesn't nap much.

I'd show willing by staying in touch, but don't actually DO anything, you are not supposed to. HTH

I didn't get in touch at all last time - my job for teh year was to be a mum. I don't intend to either this time. If I feel I want to, I'll use the Keeping in Touch days and be paid. What you are doing is a full time job anyway...

Enjoy your maternity leave