When to return to work

[Antique-white]

Hey 👋 I am wondering how people made their decision to return to work? How did you know when you was ready ? What did you measure it against? I’m currently off work with post concussion syndrome (3 months in) I’ve been back to work twice before after my accident both too soon and made my symptoms worse. Really appreciate your help on this one 😀

[moo196]

Phased return might be a sensible option. I went back 2 months post stroke (partly cos I wasn't getting paid anything and partly boredom). It wasn't great, but I do think it was helpful to be getting back to the office and also showing them how difficult it is. I started with 9 hour a week and gradually built up over a year to 29 hours.

Good luck

[lcd8]

I was the same as Moo. I had a phased return just working half day for a couple of months. That seemed to ease me in gradually. I couldn't wait to 'return to normal' so probably just push myself a bit too hard. I think the most important thing is to pace yourself and admit when you're finding things difficult. If you need adjustments it also important to speak to HR.

[Ginkgobiloba]

I found the website ‘fit for work’ has useful advice, and also acas - about structuring your return to work in agreement with your employer. Did you have a ‘return to work’ meeting when you tried going back the last two times?

It’s a two way process between yourself and your employer. Making a plan in relation to the tasks you can manage, making reasonable adjustments to your work environment, and setting dates to revise this at regular intervals as things change for you.

Not easy, but it helped me to try this structured approach. Now five months since hitting my head, and a month and a half into the phased return. It has helped to go back and feel more connected and get some things done.

I started with a trial week with the agreement to revise plans based on how that went. At the beginning just getting into work and being physically there was enough, doing maybe one task in that day. It did get easier and found I was able to do a bit more gradually which now seems to have levelled off. I’m on five hour days, three days a week with a rest day between each which helps (mon / wed / fri).

Aside from physical symptoms sometimes the hardest thing is just to pace yourself, stop before you’re overtired, be forgiving/kind to yourself and accepting that you can do much less than before at the moment.

Be realistic about what you can manage each step of the way, and be as clear possible about what you can / can’t do with colleagues.

fitforwork.org/blog/phased-...

acas.org.uk/absence-from-wo...

[Ginkgobiloba]

Ps I also had the same as moo in that I needed to go back to get paid so that pushed me to return. Also a neurologist advised that going back to more activity could help even if difficult to start with, but it totally depends on the nature of your work and the severity of your symptoms. Maybe it’s still too soon an you need more rest.

[sashaming1]

I learned, for my situation (after a Traumatic Brain Injury - TBI), that the decision was not mine to make (even though I thought I was ready). It was the doctor that would make that call and approve my return-to-work when he thought I was ready - although it hasn't happened yet.