Phased return

[Hockorydickerydock]

Posting for some advise for a mate

work phased return after cancer treatment should. Be over 4-5 weeks

last week was 4 hours per day 5 days

this week - week 2 of phased return after cancer
Tuesday Wednesday 5.5
Friday Saturday Sunday 6.5 hours per day

AIBU this is ok
AINBU - this is rushed and not acceptable?

works for private school education I’m worried it should be increasing 1 hour per week not extra 2-3 hours per week

Difficult to comment. I got 4 weeks paid phased return (which was more than the standard 2 they offered) I then used my unused leave to extend it over a further 6 months.

We didn’t know if I would be able to do my previous role tbh.

Do they feel ready to return at all?

Phasing is really personal and it should be tailored around what you feel ready to do within a reasonable timeframe balanced with the needs of your employer and ideally medical advice (your own doctor or occupational health if available). If 5.5hours is too much, ask to go back down to 4hours for another week before you try and build up again?

As with PP it isn't automatically unsuitable, it does depend on a whole host of factors and should be done with work and the employee to ensure success. Are you unhappy with it? Have you raised your concerns and there has been push back?

My phased return from cancer was also over 4 weeks but I used accrued leave to reduce my days over a longer period. Going back to my full hours was still really hard, especially as I had some late effects that hit me 3 months after treatment finished. I’d say it seems to ramp up quite quickly. Think we were recommended 50%, 50%, 75% 75%+ over the 4 weeks.

That's seems a lot. The idea of phased return over 4 weeks is because if you can't get back up to full time in that time you are not ready to go back.

I would negotiate more time. Could you get back to full time over 8 weeks?

Very rushed ... did they even ask you? Tell them you feel it's going too much/too quickly

Surely there was some discussion about what phased actually meant? Because it sounds like this is being imposed by her work and it should be an agreement.
That's not necessarily out of malice by the employer, it could be perfectly reasonable for some people.

It really depends on how you are physically and mentally, how long you were off for, how serious it was, the treatment you've been through and the type of role you have. I don't think anyone can really help you other than your company. Talk to them if you're not coping.

I’m on a phased return, I was off for eight months and hr said each month equals a day of for phased return as a base. I’m back five days but slightly reduced hours to accommodate commute.

She was on chemotherapy radiation therapy and stage 4 NHL

So it’s been awful!

Phased return over 4 weeks!

A phased return over 4 weeks isn’t particularly outrageous. Was your friend actually ready to start back at work though, even on a phased return? It sounds like she may have started back too soon full stop?

The issue is 2 increases of hours in one week

week one 9-1
then this week 2 increase leading to 9-330

When I had my phased return (state school teacher) I was part of the discussion, and able to state my preference. My HT, HR and I all came to a final plan together.

I find it odd that your friend wasn't part of the decision. The whole point is that it has to work for everyone, and a failed phased return is bad news for everyone involved. So normally management and HR are at pains to make it work.

Is a wellbeing action plan in place?

What are her standard full time hours? 9-6 or less/more?

Week 1 looks like half-days all week. Nothing wrong with that.

Week 2 is a bit of a jump but it depends on what full time usually is. If it’s M-F 9-4 then yes, week 2 is hardly a phased return.

5 days week 8 hours shifts typically 8-4 /9-5/10-6

What does her Occupational Health report recommend and what is the private schools policy on it?

There’s nothing automatically wrong with that plan.

Whether it’s right for the individual will be a matter for them, their manager and their health professional.

It also depends a bit what doing with those hours, light duties or full duties.

As an example, the following would be a ramp up over 5 weeks and start the way you’ve described.

For many it’s stamina building that’s the issue, so bigger steps earlier can work much better than bigger steps later.
Week 1 - four hours a day, 5 days a week
week 2 - 2 x 5.5 hr days (with a break) and 3x 6.5 hr days
week 3 - 2 x 6.5 hr days 3 x 7 hour days
week 4 - 2x7 hour days 3x7.5 hour days
week 5 - 2x7.5 hr days, 2x 8 hr days.

Ugh. It was someone from Occupational Health, not HR.

Brain blip

Interesting I will show this to her!