Foundree Roundtable: Systems Behind a Successful Return
About Event
When parents return from leave, good intentions aren't enough. What actually determines whether they land well — or quietly struggle — is the infrastructure underneath: the systems, handoffs, and manager behaviours that either hold them or don't.
This facilitated roundtable brings together People & Culture and DEI leaders to get practical about what "systems" actually means in the return-to-work context — and how to build ones that work consistently, not just when the right manager happens to be in the role.
We'll explore three questions:
What does a well-designed return actually look like operationally?
Re-onboarding touchpoints, coverage planning, handover protocols, and the moments that tend to fall through the cracks.
How do we enable managers — not just expect them?
What information, tools, and support do managers need before, during, and after a team member's leave? And where does the system currently leave them to figure it out alone?
Where do the gaps live?
Performance timing, promotion windows, workload rebalancing — the structural places where returning parents lose ground even when everyone means well.
Participants will share what's in place, what's missing, and what they're actively building — and leave with practical ideas and peer connections to take back to their organizations.
Who this is for
People & Culture and DEI leaders shaping the return-to-work experience for working parents and caregivers.
About Foundree
Foundree partners with organizations to support working parents and caregivers through the transition between caregiving and career.
Format
Small-group, facilitated roundtable focused on peer learning and practical takeaways.