Going back to work - is there an 'induction' period?

[scooch]

I'm due to start back at work in July and going in to discuss things with my boss next week. I'll have been out of things for a year and as expected feel quite nervous and rusty. A colleague mentioned what my boss had in mind for me to do when I get back, which sounded a bit daunting.
A friend mentioned she'd had a bit of an induction back into things and I wondered if this was the case now or whether this was just an individual employer's policy.
Am I within my rights to ask for a light start to things for a couple of weeks or should I just grit my teeth?

I went back last week after a year off - when I met with HR/my maanger to discuss coming back HR said they didn't expect me to be 'up to speed' when I returned and understood that it would take a while to get going. I'm not sure there is anything written down though that they have to do this but I would assume its good practice (they don't want to stress you out so much in the first few weeks that you make yourself ill). I work in local government so they are on the whole pretty good with employment issues. I've only been back a few days the first day I felt really rusty (felt really stupid when I couldn't find the on button for my PC!!!!!!)but by this week I really feel like I'm getting there - its as though everything in my pre-baby work life was carefully filed away in my brain just waiting to be dusted off. Good luck with it all.

not for me, some time back, no

in fact i was phoned at home the week before to ask what time I was going to be in and what time i was leaving as they needed to book my clients for my first few days.

bear in mind i worked n a legally area and there had been significant law changes in my absence

You don't have a right to have it easy for a while. I would suggest that you offer to go in for a couple of hours prior to your return to talk about the role and what will be required of you with regard to targets/responsibilities etc (not sure what you do). Also its an opportunity to have an update on changes within the department/company etc.

At least then you probably won't dread it so much when you turn up for work.

Thanks for the advice. I think, like most, the main problem is leaving ds! I think once I get in there I'll be ok but it will be a busy time of year and for the first couple of weeks I'd like to be out the door asap, which I'm hoping the boss will understand and not heap too much on me from the off!

I do think however that it would be good company policy to ease you in. its in their interests.

I am not sure what the law says here. I suspect it COULD be covered by discrimination law, tbh, since men don't take maternity leave-but obvioulsy you don't want to be going down that path.

would be personally NOT impressed if I had needed to go in, in my own time, and thusly arrange childcare, to get myself up to speed. Actually I was underwhelmed at being phoned at home the week beforehand, tbh.