Workplace Wellbeing: Taking baby steps back to the office 

Women can struggle when they return to work after maternity leave. But a structured transition negotiated by the employer and employee can make all the difference 

Career coach Geraldine Gallagher, founder of Inspire Coaching, says many women struggle to find their feet when they return to work after maternity leave: "They were working professionals who had the luxury of deciding how and when to spend their time and are now working parents who have competing demands on that time."

Rhonda Doyle has an impressive CV. The 45-year-old from Dublin was one of eBay's first hires in Ireland and gradually rose through its ranks to become a global director. Since 2021, she has worked for energy management specialists Schneider Electric and is currently vice president of its customer operations in Ireland and Britain.

It may look like seamless career progression, but Doyle confesses that managing two maternity leaves while working proved more challenging than anticipated.