Bad first day back at work

[user9853421]

Returned to work today after been off ill for just over 12 months. I know it's going to take me a while to settle back in as there has been a lot of changes with a new manager, new staff and covid.
Found it really hard none of my colleagues know why I have been off ill only the new manager who is off on holiday. I feel so overwhelmed and needing some support but there is none 😩
Dreading going back tomorrow

It’s bound to be a massive deal going back after a year. Have you discussed a possible phased return with your manager?
Just take each day as it comes - honestly, a week changes everything. It’s probably just a shock to the system but if it continues to be awful you can look for another job now you are well enough

Sorry to hear you had a bad first day back. Could you arrange to meet with your manager when she gets back? To get an understanding of her expectations and key deliverables she wants you to work on. Booking this in will look proactive and willing.

Secondly, could you tell your Co-workers that are new that you are just integrating back in and you’d really like their advice on how best to get up to speed. People generally love being asked for advice so if you frame it like ‘I would really value your opinion and support’ I’m sure most people would do it.

@Squeejit

It’s bound to be a massive deal going back after a year. Have you discussed a possible phased return with your manager? Just take each day as it comes - honestly, a week changes everything. It’s probably just a shock to the system but if it continues to be awful you can look for another job now you are well enough

I am on a phased return at the moment which will hopefully make things a bit easier going forward

@Jillybons

Sorry to hear you had a bad first day back. Could you arrange to meet with your manager when she gets back? To get an understanding of her expectations and key deliverables she wants you to work on. Booking this in will look proactive and willing.

Secondly, could you tell your Co-workers that are new that you are just integrating back in and you’d really like their advice on how best to get up to speed. People generally love being asked for advice so if you frame it like ‘I would really value your opinion and support’ I’m sure most people would do it.

I will be having my return to work meeting when my manager returns. I feel like it would have been good to do it today just to get it out the way and have a plan in place.

Poor planning by your work place has meant you are left in an overwhelming position.
I know in my place I would be locked out of all systems and it takes about 3 days just to get back on everything.
I hope it gets better for you and I hope you have the confidence to explain how it made you feel to your manager when they return

When is your manager back? I think it's really poor you have returned after one year without your manager being present. In my company I would only have someone back in my absence with them having a point of contact in my absence for support.

Hope today is better

Is there another manager you trust who could support you while you’re is away? Or a colleague you could confide in and trust not to tell everyone else? It’s right that your colleagues don’t know why you’ve been off (it’s your sensitive private information), but if you want to tell them you can.

It’s really hard going back after such a long absence. Is there a process in place to get you back up to speed with things you might have missed? Especially since things are more likely to have changed because of covid

@MrsRockAndRoll my manager is back next week

@MadeOfStarStuff no she is the only manager in the business. I think she is going to go through a plan with me next week for training and catching up with things.