Maternity Leave Cover Using A Virtual Assistant |
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Page 1 of 2  download article When you hear that one of your admin staff is pregnant, your first thought is usually one of joy, shortly followed by a realisation that you’ll have to cover maternity leave which can be anything up to 52 weeks. Compared with 2 weeks of paternity leave, maternity leave is much more of a problem.If the job you have to cover is important, then you will need a solution that maintains the quality of work. Hiring a replacement on a short term contract often takes too long – hiring period, notice period and training period included – and Agency Temps are expensive and not always satisfactory. Temps have a reputation for inconsistency, being disinterested and not delivering. You need someone reliable and committed, who can slot into your business quickly and do a good job. The third option is to use a Virtual Assistant, or VA for short. If you are looking to cover an extended period of maternity leave, the following sections should help you to better understand the Virtual Assistant option, what questions to ask and what to expect. Different Types of VAIn recent years, there has been an explosion of people – mainly women - setting themselves up as a self-employed VA. For this new breed of home worker, most are equipped with at least a PC, Phone, Printer/Copier/Fax and Broadband, so they can support clients remotely, via the internet.Looking at the different types of VA businesses, they appear fall into five broad categories:
A small VA business, whether operating from a physical office or as a virtual organisation, will tend to offer the most robust and flexible solution for maternity leave cover. |