> If you're manager of a lean team or startup, how have you effectively handled your or an employee's mat/pat leave when in reality, your biz is already short-s

> If you're manager of a lean team or startup, how have you effectively handled your or an employee's mat/pat leave when in reality, your biz is already short-staffed? Temporary promotions? Contractors? Spreading the work across the team? I usually make a replacement hire and ask the person returning from leave if they want to keep doing what they were doing (this is a legal obligation) and if the returnee says yes, I offer to move the replacement to a different role (if the replacement is redundant and productive). In a small startup, leaves are a great way to expand the team - you get a great person back, and have a no risk way to try out a new person. You just have to remember that people on leave... be it National Guard, maternity or any other contractual or legally mandated leave absolutely have to get their old job back, and excuses for not doing so will result in painful, often losing litigation.