Returning to work

[Scaredtogoback]

I have been off sick for 6 weeks and I’m hoping to go back soon. My last illness was in 2022 and I was off for six months. My return was handled badly and I’m scared it’s going to happen again.
I know everyone feels anxious about going back after an illness but I am worried history will repeat itself

Do you work for an organisation that can refer you to Occupational Health ?

In my job, you have to have a 'return to work interview' after just one day off - it is ridiculous for those cases, but it would give you the opportunity to discuss any adjustments that might be helpful in case of a longer absence.

Yes I have been referred to occupational health I have the meeting on Thursday. I was referred last time too but it was still handled badly.

Could you ask gp to add to your fit note..'phased return'? Could you write down what you feel might help you return..fewer hours each day or one on one off? Any reasonable adjustments required like chairs,screen filters,breaks throughout day?Your return to work should be reviewed after a certain amount of time too. Apologies if you have done this .
Have you considered talking to Acas they can help you with what to say etc.
In what way was it handled badly last time?

You need to make sure you discuss a return to work at the OH appointment. Assuming this is a long term condition (and not that you were off with MH breakdown last time and a broken wrist now which would obviously be completely different needs) discuss what went wrong last time and be clear about what your needs are. This is your opportunity to get your needs put in writing as part of the OH report.
Then once your manager has the report, meet with her to discuss how this will work in practice and get a weekly review scheduled in for your first few weeks back.

Write a list of what went wrong last time and how it could have been avoided, then communicate that at your meeting.

@Boudy i don’t feel comfortable writing on here what went wrong last time if possible can I pm you or if anyone else has any experience if I can pm them

@Scaredtogoback certainly you can pm me. I am not expertI in this field though and hopefully someone with greater knowledge will be along. I do wonder if you have thought about calling Acas as well. I am sorry you are so worried.

Maybe see if anyone with greater experience comes along. I wouldn't want you to tell me what happened and for me to not be able to be really helpful.

I'm not in HR but have been a manager who supported a few staff members returning from sick so can offer the other side of the coin.

The most seamless one was a staff member who had a new physical disability that may have some knock on effects but as it was early stages she wasnt sure to what extent for example someone now has to use crutches and isnt sure to what extent she will get sore sitting in a chair all day. She came to her meetings informed, positive and with a realistic actionable list of what she needed. She agreed to weekly check ins with me to touch base and make adjustments as we went, she was proactive in flagging potential concerns and didnt let resentment build.

I've also had staff return from being off with mental health concerns. The first suffered from burnout. Ill be honest I learnt a lot from her as she didn't flag what she needed in her return but I also wasn't proactive in offering possible solutions or telling her what we could do. She didn't know what she needed and was scared that making demands would put her at risk. She came back and continued with only minor adjustments and insisted she was fine until it spiralled. Don't be afraid to speak up. I now make sure I go to the meetings with a 'here's what we can do-' list to be more supportive. Happy to talk about what we ended up putting in place for them and they are still with the company and have been promoted to a more intense job but with supportive guardrails.

I also had someone that when they returned honestly couldn't do the job anymore. Their circumstances had changed and we supported a flexible working request but it wasnt enough and trying to make the impossible possible was so hard on them. We had to enforce boundaries because of the knock on impact on colleagues and this was taken badly. They changed jobs and are now thriving so I would also consider if realistically it can work.

@Firstsuggestions would it be ok to pm you?

@Scaredtogoback of course. Again not a HR expert but if you even have any specific questions about what I was able to put in place then happy to answer.

OP ask your GP to detail in your last fit note the adjustments they suggest to help you back to work. Also be open about your needs when you have your meeting with occupational health and any reasonable adjustments you woukd require.

If you have disclosed a disability/long term health condition your employer has a duty to consider reasonable adjustments.

I would also keep notes of everything your manager tells you and of any problems that might arise so you have records shoukd things go bad and you end up having ho raise a grievance.