AIBU for someone to delay their return to work?

[ThinAir]

Imagine you had a genuine injury that had prevented you from working for 2 weeks. You then improved and over the weekend and realised you were probably fit for work on the Monday.

If Monday was a particularly challenging day work wise due to work schedule, and could be a real baptism of fire in terms of returning after an injury, would it be unreasonable to return on the Tuesday instead, to avoid unnecessarily stressful first day back (and to avoid potential feelings of not being able to cope)?

If you are fit for work on MOnday then yes, you should go back to work on MOnday. However, if you genuinly feel you cant then of course not U to take another day or so.

Isn't there a point though, for instance if you'd just had a plaster cast removed that you would go back to work but maybe not choose that extra long shift as your first day back?

Being fit for work isnt always totally black and white issue, do you think?

No I wouldnt choose an extra long shift but is it money driven?? Are they skint and really need the money if they've been off. Or maybe they thought they really would be ok but are now realising they arent.

Never black and white!

Not money driven, just trying to work out if they took the Monday off, it would be considered a skive (or sensible).

Considering whether you are fit for work involves considering the actual work, its just sensible surely?
Deciding based on how easy you find sitting around at home in you dressing gown would make no sense.

I think there may be health and safety issues here and the employer may have a problem with return to work. I know if I was signed off for two weeks and decided to go back to work before that, my employer would not let me until I had had it confirmed by the doctor that I was allowed/fit to.

I think they could get away with it!

It could well be considered sensible. A persons health is much more important than a persons job, so that should always come first IMO.

Lots of jobs put people on light duties when they return to work after injury or illness, and if there is no option to do that, then an extra day off and and easy route back into it is the best thing to do.