A Better Back to Work
One platform to guide parents, managers and HR through parental leave
Make Every Parental Leave Clear, Consistent and Supported
Parental Leave And You, PLAY, is a platform that turns parental leave from a moment of risk into a structured, human, and measurable experience — guiding parents, managers, and HR through every step from pregnancy announcement to a sustainable return to work. Instead of relying on memory, scattered documents or one very organized manager, everyone knows what happens next.
From research to action
A Policy isn’t a Parental Leave Experience
What happens between the policy and the person is where things get messy.
Over two years of research, we heard from parents, managers and HR teams about what happens when parental leave moves from policy into practice. Again and again, we found the same gap: people want to get it right, but they don’t always have the structure to do it.
Parents are left navigating a major life transition with inconsistent support. Managers are expected to guide them without clear tools or training. And HR can’t be in every conversation.
The problem isn’t a lack of good intentions. It’s what happens between the policy and the person.
Return to work is part of postpartum recovery
Return-to-work stress ranked among women’s biggest postpartum challenges.
Ahead of pelvic floor issues, difficulty breastfeeding and isolation/loneliness, women told us that going back to work isn’t simply a logistical milestone. It’s part of the postpartum experience itself – and often a challenging one.
When we asked women what they wished had been available to them, the answer was striking:
Better employer support was #1.
Outranking home help, physical reeducation and even longer maternity leave.
Women aren’t simply asking for more time away from work. They are asking for a better way back.
Managers want to help, but the infrastructure isn't there
Clear structure for managers is far from universal.
Even when a leave policy exists, only 17% of managers had formal resources or training on how to handle parental leave transitions, and 39% had no manager-specific resources at all.
When asked what would help, 50% wanted a timeline of what to do and say, while 44% wanted a platform with timelines, responsibilities and resources.
Managers aren’t asking to become parental leave experts. They’re asking for a structure to help them get it right – and not have to start from scratch each time.
a better back to work
The gap isn’t intention. It’s infrastructure.
Parents want a better-supported transition. Managers want the structure to provide one. And HR needs a way to make that experience consistent across teams. PLAY connects all three.
One platform
One Journey. Everyone Knows Their Part.
For Parents
A clear timeline from pregnancy announcement through the first weeks back, with milestones, guided conversations and practical resources at the moments they’re actually needed.
No wondering if you can pump during your lunch break, shift your working hours, how much contact to have while you’re away, or when to raise a change you need for your return.
For HR
One place to see where every parental leave journey stands, whether key touchpoints are happening, where action is needed and when something needs to be escalated.
No chasing managers, relying on spreadsheets or wondering whether one employee is getting a completely different parental leave experience from the person sitting two teams over.
For Managers
A step-by-step roadmap through every stage of an employee’s leave, with conversation prompts, shared worksheets, reminders and clear responsibilities.
No wondering how to plan coverage, whether you can contact an employee during leave, or how to check in once they’re back.