Chris stays connected on pat leave

Chris Webden had been working at Loblaw for almost a year when he approached his manager about taking paternity leave. His daughter, Anna, was born in October 2020, and he and his wife intended to split parental leave—something they’d done when their son, Charlie, was born two years prior.

Chris had started his new job as Head of Production for Marketing Operations, Loblaw Agency the week COVID-19 hit, so he had only met a few of his colleagues in person.

“My wife has a demanding job—she’s an emergency-room doctor—and her career is very important to her. It was never ultimately going to be in the cards for her to take a full year of leave from work.”

Chris first approached Human Resources about taking a four-month leave starting in May 2021, then talked to his manager, Vanessa Norris. “Everyone was fantastic,” he says.

Through the Parent and Caregiver Network (previously known as We Care, You Care), Loblaw offers support for all parents and caregivers, including new mothers and fathers who want to take leave. The program helps keep them connected to their work while they’re away.

Part of the program is the Parent and Caregiver Buddy System, a community of support within Loblaw that covers everything from how to navigate leave administration to how to have effective career conversations with your leader that include work/life balance.

“A program like this helps you prepare for what could be an awkward conversation with your manager or your direct reports,” Chris says.

“Traditionally, it’s not been the father’s role to take parental leave, so it’s hard to take the first step in having those conversations. After the fact, I can say that the organization was incredibly supportive and there was nothing to worry about, but you don’t necessarily know that when you're in the moment.”

Chris wanted to stay connected while he was away, since he was in a new role and overseeing some important projects. He talked to Vanessa about how best to do this—ultimately, he continued to check email and invited colleagues to text him in case of an emergency.

This loose contact helped make his transition back to work smoother—both for him and his team.

Chris says he’s so grateful for the time he got to spend at home with his kids.

“The amount that my daughter grew and changed in that time was huge,” he says. “You're able to watch these things happen in real time and it creates an absolute bond between you and your kids. It’s not time you’ll ever get back and it goes by so quickly, so you have to take advantage of it while the opportunity is there.”