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222. What to Do When an Employee Has a Baby: A Guide for Managers with Lori Mihalich-Levin
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In this episode of World’s Greatest Boss, I sit down with Lori Mihalich-Levin, healthcare attorney and founder of Mindful Return, to unpack one of the most emotionally charged and operationally challenging moments for managers: when an employee becomes a parent.
We break down the real reason why one in three women don’t return to work after maternity leave—and what managers can do to create a supportive, retention-focused approach to parental leave transitions. Lori shares her four-part framework for managers, practical communication tips, and a powerful mindset shift that reframes parental leave from disruption to leadership opportunity.
Whether you’re creating your first parental leave policy or navigating your own experience as a working parent, this episode gives you the tactical tools and human-centered perspective to do it well.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
[1:10] Why most managers mishandle parental leave
[4:00] The four pillars of a successful leave transition: Mindset, Logistics, Leadership, and Community
[7:25] How parental leave can actually strengthen leadership skills
[10:10] The damaging assumptions managers often make—and how to avoid them
[12:20] Why co-creating a leave plan builds trust and buy-in
[14:45] What to say (and what not to say) when someone tells you they’re expecting
[17:30] Rethinking “primary caregiver” and outdated policy terms
[19:00] How to support team members without breaking your budget
[21:15] Why small businesses are perfectly positioned to offer meaningful parental support
[24:00] Reframing guilt as values-based decision-making
[26:15] Free resources and step-by-step guides from Mindful Return
[28:05] Final thoughts on being a thoughtful, prepared boss during parental leave
Resources Mentioned:
- Mindful Return Website: https://www.mindfulreturn.com
- 99 Questions to Ask Yourself Before, During, and After Parental Leave: Download here
- Book: Back to Work After Baby by Lori Mihalich-Levin
- Parents at Work Podcast: Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Free meditations for working parents on Insight Timer
- Courses for new parents & managers available at mindfulreturn.com
Connect with Lori:
- LinkedIn: Lori Mihalich-Levin
- Instagram: @mindfulreturn
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Me:
- LinkedIn: Jackie Koch
- Website: peopleprinciples.co
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