If you’re on statutory maternity leave pay right now, my heart goes out to you! I worked at different companies for each of my periods of maternity leave. Unfortunately, neither of them offered an enhanced scheme, leaving me to manage on 90% pay for 6 weeks and SMP for 33 weeks
But some maternity leave pay is better than nothing right?
And I would absolutely agree; women in some countries have far worse deals on maternity leave than in the UK.
But on a personal level, even with savings and mega-budgeting strategies deployed (which I excel at by the way), my husband and I were going to struggle to make ends meet when I was on my second maternity leave.
Could I increase my income?
I started to think, “can I work on maternity leave?” and after doing some research, found that indeed I could!
As well as ‘keeping in touch days‘ with my employer, as long as your contract of employment allows it, you can work freelance whilst on maternity leave.
Enter Virtual Assistant job
I was reading on a money-saving website about ways to boost your income. As well as there being ideas such as completing online surveys and focus groups etc, there was a freelance website mentioned. On this site you could sign up and start bidding on projects to work on from home. I signed up, started bidding and the rest as they say, is history!
How did you fit it in?
This is a question I get asked a lot, but essentially the best advice I can give is, where there’s a will, there’s a way! I would work when my daughter napped and my eldest was in school, or in the evenings once she was asleep.
It took off so well, that I considered quitting my full-time job and going freelance after my maternity leave instead. However, it did feel risky so I sought a part-time employed role which I am still in today. I work for a university in events for 17.5 hours per week and I freelance around it.
Fast forward six years
I am living my maternity leave pipedream! What started as a way to top up my maternity leave pay, has given me a fabulously fulfilling and flexible way to earn a good living around my family.
I am there for the school run each day which my daughters love. They have also had extra-curricular opportunities afforded to them which would have been closed off if I worked full time.
You can do it too!
It’s not going to be for everyone, but if you wanted to find out more about how to become a freelance Virtual Assistant, then do check out Virtual Assistant training and my other Virtual Assistant blog.
You may like:
What is a Virtual Assistant anyway? Do you know?
Virtual Assistant service – what will you offer?
How to make what you’re worth as a Virtual Assistant
How to build credibility as a Virtual Assistant fast
My five best work from home tips for parents
Thanks for reading!
If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when developing your Virtual Assistant business. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you! This will help keep this blog running ad-free. Thank you for your support – Jen x
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