Returning to work after maternity leave, caring or a career break
Returning after maternity leave, caring, illness, redundancy, study or changed priorities can feel like starting again. This video shows how to recognise your experience, explain a break honestly, refresh relevant skills and find work that fits your life now.
It covers both returning to an existing employer and seeking a new role, with fictional CV and interview examples, practical questions about hours and support, and a manageable first week. Great Britain rights are checked as of 5 October 2026; Northern Ireland has separate rules. Planned changes are distinguished from current rights. Check current guidance for your circumstances.
Educational documentary. Not financial or investment advice.
In these topics
Tags
Chapters
- Returning can feel like starting again
- Which return are you making?
- A break is not a blank space
- Explain the break briefly
- Move the answer towards your strengths
- Refresh, do not reinvent
- Find work that fits your life now
- Ask practical questions early
- Choose a workable bridge
- Start before confidence is complete
Sources and credits
Primary sources
- Government Equalities Office / Equality Hub, Returner toolkit, 17 March 2023: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/returner-toolkit-helping-you-back-to-work/returner-toolkit-helping-you-back-to-work.
- National Careers Service, Explain a gap in employment, undated, checked 5 October 2026: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/explain-gaps-in-work-history/.
- Acas, Returning to work after maternity leave, undated, checked 5 October 2026: https://www.acas.org.uk/statutory-maternity-leave-and-pay/returning-to-work.
- Acas, Code of Practice on requests for flexible working, 6 April 2024: https://www.acas.org.uk/acas-code-of-practice-on-flexible-working-requests/html.
- Acas, A revised Code of Practice, 1 October 2026: https://www.acas.org.uk/a-revised-acas-code-of-practice-on-requests-for-flexible-working.
- Department for Business and Trade, timeline update, 25 September 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act/plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act-timeline-update.
- Government Equalities Office, Career break returner programmes launched, 28 August 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/career-break-returner-programmes-launched-to-help-people-back-to-work.
Not regulated financial advice.