Mid-year performance review after returning from sick leave due to anxiety - please advise

[098765gk]

I have a mid-year performance review this week. I am 6 weeks into a return to work after having 2 months off with anxiety and depression.

I'm trying to prepare my notes for the performance review with my manager but finding it really upsetting. We have to answer prompt questions like 'How have you been making an impact', 'What achievements are you most proud of' and 'How have you made a difference in your team?', among others.

It's really upsetting me. I don't really have anything to say that is positive. I'm also worried as I've had a reasonable adjustment made which is removing a part of my role I find stressful (presenting) and all my targets and competencies mention that, so I just feel like I've failed and am not meeting expectations. I also don't know what parts of the reasonable adjustments are temporary, and when my manager will bring them back and that's worrying me too

Does anyone have any advice?

I'm guessing this is a company wide thing and not just unique to you.

I know it's hard, but try not to worry about meeting your competencies etc. any manager worth their salt would be approaching this review sensitively with you.

Most likely they will use it as a chance to check in with you on your recovery. Discuss your reasonable adjustments and see if they are working / need to change.

For the achievements you are most proud of I'd say coming back to work and getting stuck in after a period of illness which was debilitating. That's definitely something to be proud of.

I would also say what you would like to achieve now that you’re back and feeling better.

Yeah, it's a company-wide thing. I was going to be excused from it but my manager thought it would be a good idea to do it. It's been quite an upsetting process trying to prepare for it as it just reminds me of how difficult a time I had had leading up to getting signed off

I think that's good feedback for your manager.

It sounds like the company are not expecting you to do it or to be smashing targets etc.

I think your manager might have felt this was just a good time to check in and perhaps reframe goals and objectives to suit your current level of recovery.

However, if it's not helping you, tell the manager that. They need to know if they are the source of stress that's impacting your performance