To ask what is reasonable for a return to work.

[judyf86]

I was recently seriously ill and was signed off my work for six weeks.

My job is full time, high pressure/stressful and involves standing all day and a high level of concentration.

To do a phased return, I would need to use holidays and I don’t have any left. So it’s either I’m off, or I’m in for a 40 hour week- there’s no in-between.

I’m trying to slowly get myself back to normal but am suffering with extreme fatigue and my concentration and memory is poor. The doctor has encouraged me to build up activities.

I still have a couple of weeks left on the sick line (and then to be reviewed by the dr) but I feel guilty even meeting a friend for coffee.

What would be 'reasonable' tasks and activities to do to build up my energy levels again?

Why is there no in between? Is that what your work have said? Seems a bit silly as it may mean you are off for longer - until you are ready to do full time.

It's definitely reasonable to meet your friend, thats very different to being on your feet all day. If they cannot do a phased return for you, its important to build up your strength before returning or you will likely end up having to just go off sick again?

Surely if it’s a phased return for medical reasons, you don’t have to use your own leave allowance? Your GP could write to explain & the HR dept. should then take that into account. I’ve just had a colleague do 3 half days for 2 weeks, then 3 3/4 days for a week, then 3 full days, 4 full days & is staying at that for a few weeks.

Why would you need holiday to do a phased return?

In the meantime you absolutely should do everything you feel able to, don't feel guilty for doing the things you need to get yourself closer to a return to work, why would you? Meet the friend for coffee, go for a walk if you can, try to get out of the house for "something" everyday. I find a trip to the library is relaxing, but also somehow feels worthy and constructive.

@DownWhichOfLate

Why is there no in between? Is that what your work have said? Seems a bit silly as it may mean you are off for longer - until you are ready to do full time.

Yes, that's the policy! We have serious problems with sickness and staffing because people don't feel able to return to full time immediately so just stay off longer.

@Carpedimum

Surely if it’s a phased return for medical reasons, you don’t have to use your own leave allowance? Your GP could write to explain & the HR dept. should then take that into account. I’ve just had a colleague do 3 half days for 2 weeks, then 3 3/4 days for a week, then 3 full days, 4 full days & is staying at that for a few weeks.

I've checked and its definitely your own leave.

Years ago I had a colleague who had a stroke and tried to come back phased but wasn't allowed without holidays so went straight back to full time- she had another stroke a few weeks later.

I'm shocked there is no phased return.
And it doesn't make sense not to allow it as people will just be off completely for longer?!

Of course meet your friend. Try and do something everyday.

You don't use holiday dormouse's return.the dr signs your fit note as 'fit to work with adjustments' and details what those adjustments are.. x hours per day, part days for one week and stamping up to xyz.

But on 6 weeks sick leave the return to work would be quite quick, over 2 weeks maybe as it's proportionate to the time off.

Unless there is a medical reason you can't do the same jobs as a result.

But if you are thinking about going back to work then you should be up and about, supermarket shopping, walks, coffees etc to validate you are fit to return. If you can't do the basics then your not fit to work....

I don't know many employers (outside of public sector) who would give full pay for days not worked on a phased return. These would be paid at sick pay rates or unpaid if sick leave is exhausted. (Not sure on SSP eligibility).

You do have to put your health first, OP, although I realise for many people that finances can make that difficult for people.

Ive been here you have to build slowly. Walking is good but don’t go too far too soon you have to gradually return. If you are not 100% fit then you need to be signed off given their sickness policy but you should get SSP for the hours you don’t work in a phased return up you 6 months of sick pay. Their policy doesn’t seem correct I would challenge them. If you have been that ill you can’t suddenly return to 40 hours a week. Also can you have an occupational health referral standing up all day when you have extreme fatigue not really compatible.

@redpandaalert

Ive been here you have to build slowly. Walking is good but don’t go too far too soon you have to gradually return. If you are not 100% fit then you need to be signed off given their sickness policy but you should get SSP for the hours you don’t work in a phased return up you 6 months of sick pay. Their policy doesn’t seem correct I would challenge them. If you have been that ill you can’t suddenly return to 40 hours a week. Also can you have an occupational health referral standing up all day when you have extreme fatigue not really compatible.

I'm worried about going back to work when I'm not quite ready and not being fit to do the weekly shop, do things with my DC because work is taking up all of the little energy I have.

Occ health won't be able to do anything about standing due to the nature of my job. I've spoken to my line manager about it and she's told me not to come back until I'm ready.

To be fair, nobody is forcing me back yet or making me feel guilty (apart from my mother).

Well
Don’t go back then - sounds like they’d rather not have people in unless they probably well. Which actually is nice of your employer!

Surely phase return can have partial sick leave though,

@Boombastic22

Well Don’t go back then - sounds like they’d rather not have people in unless they probably well. Which actually is nice of your employer!

Surely phase return can have partial sick leave though,

HR have told me no but I'm wondering if they just mean not on my regular full sick wage.

I get six months full pay a year so if going back phased on part SSP is the other option I can see why they're not offering it up.

That's how it works where I work OP. The "off" part of a phased return is considered sick leave so if you still have sick pay entitlement it will be paid, if you don't, it won't.

Your GP can write a further fit note ticking the you may be fit for work taking into account the following:

There is an option for phased return and for the GP to write what this means and duties you can undertake.

For example start at 3 hours a day for fist week/two weeks building up to full time by one hour a week/two weeks. Requires ability to sit down regularly and to slowly build up workload.

I agree about staying off until you are actually feeling up to it.

Re building up stamina.
You need to start going out and meeting up with a friend is a good way.
Some walks in a nearby park
Moving around in the house more etc…

See what you can do wo feeling exhausted and how long it takes you to recover from ‘doing too much’. It’s no good saying you can do a full day in your feet if you then collapse for the next 2~3 days and can’t go up the stairs iyswim

The GP can write you another note with the details of a phased return. I did one once that was every day 9-1230. It was an absolute pain in the bum for everyone but it was all I could manage and it was that or I'd be off all the time. The time I wasn't at work counted as "sick". No holiday needed, I accrued it.

Are you sure you get six months sick pay a year ? I think you might find that once the six months is used up it doesn’t refresh ever again

My workplace is per year in a rolling basis, it’s not that unusual.

I’d usually suggest a weeks phases return for every month or partial month of sick leave with the expectation they’re back up to full speed at that point. It certainly it shouldn’t be an indefinite adjustment. In your case, it doesn’t sound like you’re physically ready to go back if your fatigue levels are so high. Start upping your activity levels during the day and start going back to work when you’re less fatigued.

The dr needs to put it in your fit note that you need a phased return, detail it (x hours a day over x days). It is absolutely not up to you to use AL for this. It is counted as sickness absence so if you get 6m paid sick leave at full pay and you've only used 6w of it then you should still be paid in full for the time when you're not there.

Alternatively, stay off longer until you can do a 40h week. I know which I'd prefer an employee to do, your hr dept is either wrong or your employer's absence policy is ridiculous.