Getting back to toxic job after 2 month off sick...

[summerskyblue]

I am due to go back to my part-time job soon.

I had almost 2 month off due a flare up in a long term health condition (disability) combined with a secondary virus (as my immune system was struggling).

I am dreading it.

Work is aware of my disability/long term health issues but has always been really unsupportive. It is a very toxic environment in general with a high staff turnover and chaotic management.

So I can only imagine what it will be like on my return.

I have learned that while I was off sick my manager also increased my targets ,which I took as a sneaky way to get rid of my on my return as there is no way I will be able to meet them.

I was already having to do what is a full time workload over 3 days and the shorter turnaround for projects they are asking for is simply unfeasible.

My plan is to:

• on my first day back ask for a catch up meeting with my manager if none has been set up for me
• ask for a referral to occupational health
• speak to ACAS once I have had the catch up meeting.

Am I missing anything and how would other people navigate this?

I want to leave this job longer term but can't afford to do so right now so need to carry on until at least Christmas while I continue to expand the freelance contracts that I take on alongside this job.

Give some thought to what you want your employer to do. What adjustments might help you phase back into work successfully? Has your doctor suggested any? They might not want to accept all or any of your requests but that will just make them seem more unreasonable and unsupportive.

Do you want to work there? Is it time to move on and find somewhere else to work?

How long have you worked there for?

join a union. Make sure you stay at your job for 3 months so you can get the benefit of union representation at any and all meetings with your manager.

Do you have a job description and your previous targets in written form? that might help

Thank everyone for the comments so far.

To answer queries:

• I have been in this job for more than 2 years
• Yes, I absolutely want to move on from this job but I have been really poorly so had no whatsoever energy to job hunt. I do have a couple of freelance contracts going but still need to replace this part-time job with something else
• Reasonable adjustments that would help is home working as I live 2 hours from this office (that's another issue with this job, when I was hired they told me I would only need to attend quarterly meetings in person then they moved the goal posts after six months...)

Definitely ask for an occupational health referral. I had one when I was signed off several years ago and they were really supportive. I was able to have a phased return back to work. Without the occupational health report, my boss would have expected me back fulltime straightaway. A toxic environment too which I ended up leaving eventually. I hope all works out well for you.

Get the occupational health referral BEFORE you go back. If you have a long term health condition you need assessment done and reasonable adjustments in place for you going back.
Once you are back it’s easier for them to say you’re managing as things are. But if you and Occupational health have said you need these things in place in order for you to manage at work then you’re in a stronger position

It is difficult because I have not heard anything from work for the past two months. I did notify them that I would be returning when my last fit note ends on Monday but no attempt from them to discuss my return/reasonable adjustment/OH referral.

I won't be going into the office and will be WFH on my day back (as our roles are hybrid) and will make an official request for home working only as a reasonable adjustment and OH referral that day.