Returning to work following a period of absence can leave you feeling a little bit nervous, but it doesn’t need to.
Your employer should be familiar with the return-to-work process and will be there to support you at every stage. They may also call on additional sources of support and involve your GP, occupational health therapist, or a representative from HR to ensure your return to work is successful.
The return-to-work process
As part of the process, it’s likely that your employer will take some time to sit down with you and talk through the factors that contributed to your leave from work. This will help them to establish where changes need to be made, and what accommodations should be granted to make you feel more comfortable. They should also catch up with you about what’s been happening, both in work and socially, too.
Your employer should also take the opportunity to speak with you about what the first few weeks are expected to look like for you, and how your progress in these early stages will be measured. Goals set at this point should be achievable — be sure to speak up and voice your concerns if you feel they’re not.
Part of your employer’s responsibility is also to ensure you don’t return to an overwhelming amount of work or an overflowing inbox, and that any clients you manage have not been neglected in your absence.
You may find that your employer takes time out to check in with you quite regularly in the early stages of your return. Keep in mind that this isn’t to check up on you, but rather to make sure you’re comfortable with your goals and the work you have on your plate. They should also be more forthcoming with feedback, if they haven’t been previously.
Anyone who takes a period of leave due to sickness (physical or mental) will usually need some time to fully recover. As a result, you might find that, upon your return to work, you have fewer, or less intense, projects on your task board. You might also find that the tasks you’ve been set limit physical activity. These changes, also known as ‘reasonable adjustments’ are all perfectly normal and aren’t something to panic about — your employer is simply setting you up for the best chance of success.
In some cases, the ‘reasonable adjustments’ required may involve larger, more extensive changes to your work, your working environment, or your working pattern. These can include:
- A phased return to work (starting with part-time work and building back up to full-time)
- Rearranged responsibilities to reduce stress
- The option to work from home
- Changes to shift patterns
- Exploring different working options, such as going part-time, job sharing, or flexible working
- Adjustments made to your physical workspace to accommodate your needs
For more information on ‘reasonable adjustments’ and your returning to work right, visit our guide here.
