Return to the rat race

[NDWs]

Had a heart attack in October been on sick leave since then. I am meant to be going back to work sometime in January. TBH I am dreading it 😔 but I have responsibilities to make also I don't want to head back to the office drama 🙄 what was it like going back to work?

[Captain_Birdseye]

Can you get a phased return or reduced hours? Ask HR to be referred to occupational health if you've not done this already

[MummaSoap]

Hi NDWs

I’m returning to work “properly” albeit on a phased return on 3rd Jan and I won’t lie, I’m nervous; I think it’s to be expected though.

I’m going to give you 2 perspectives here; my personal and my HR head.

Personally I feel mixed emotions and I don’t even know if I’m going to be capable of returning to full time hours which worries me for a variety of reasons.

HR head - if you phoned me I would be advising you to be as open and honest with your manager as you feel comfortable to be. Also, you are entitled to hold your boundaries in a respectful manner with colleagues; if any office drama starts to rear its head, just politely ask not to be involved (although often easier said than done I know). Take any and all support that is offered to you, be honest if you are struggling with any aspects of your return because your manager is unable to support you effectively if they don’t have all the information. Oh and if you’re feeling nervous about going into the office on that first day, maybe get someone you trust to accompany you into the building just so you’re not having to complete that physical task alone on that first day.

I wish you the very best of luck and I’m sure that once you’re over the threshold on the first day, it’ll just keep getting easier. If not, then please feel free to reach out - we can be returners together 🙂💛

Best wishes

Soap

[Pheasant1234 in reply to MummaSoap]

such nice advise. Well done.

[Skeets]

Its a huge step that can be filled with anxiety.

I hope your employer is supportive and you are able to go back on a phased return. I was lucky to be able to do it over 6 weeks by using some annual leave. Without doing this I’d have struggled as it exhausting adjusting to being back in the real world ,all the changes or ways of working and staff , plus germs everywhere. I work frontline NHS .

Be gentle and kind to yourself. Don’t plan things to do outside of work in case you need to rest . And good luck

[Mlinde]

Commisserations. Is there no chance that you can find a different job, one with less stress or perhaps a different position in the same place? I know it's easier said than done but you only live once, your life is precious!

[redimps]

Hi, So sorry you are feeling this way but can really understand and relate to it. After a massive heart attack I prepared to return to work, to my very stressful job where I worked far more hours than was paid for via a phased return, but even before I got back the dramas started. Totally unsupportive employer/manager who started changing the goal posts. I made the very difficult decision not to return to my job. I was so difficult and sometimes , one year on, still is but I know it was the right decision. Life is too short for this kind of stress and pressure and I found out, very nearly the ultimate way, that life is too precious. I wish you the very best of luck