There are times when a workplace leave of absence is necessary. Perhaps you require medical treatment or are caring for someone else (parental or compassionate leave). Alternatively, you may decide to take a sabbatical to further your education or fulfill military obligations. Employment laws govern the specifics of leaves of absence and return to work programs. Even so, returning to work and being productive can be challenging. Here is some advice on how to overcome the challenges.
Get your Personal Life in Order
Before you go back to work after a leave of absence, get support at home. Declutter, organize your living spaces and establish routines. Arrange for childcare, pet care, housekeeping, etc. You will likely be more tired after a ‘typical day at the office,’ so having some structure at home will mean one less thing to worry about.
Communication is Key
Keep the communication channels open with your supervisor, human resources, union, and other (WorkSafeBC, insurance) representatives. Ask questions to ensure you understand your entitlements and obligations. Let these people know as soon as possible if you need further accommodations to perform your duties. If you are an employer, meet with your return-to-work employee regularly (daily or at least every other day) to ensure they feel supported.
Prepare for questions from your co-workers. Generally, people are kind and want to support you, but they may inadvertently ask prying or inappropriate questions. It may be emotional for you, so create some standard answers beforehand (and practice saying them to sound natural). If everyone on the team has the same information, it will be clear that you will only share specific things. Remember, no one is entitled to hear the details of your situation. Only share as much as you are comfortable with.
Brace Yourself for Overwhelm and Get Support
Returning after a workplace leave of absence is tough. You might feel disconnected or even intimidated because the company moves on even though you haven’t been there. Seeing co-workers again, meeting new people, looking at the overflowing inbox, and figuring out which projects are at which stage can be too much to handle.
Talk to your supervisor or a trusted mentor. Perhaps they can pair you with co-workers who can bring you up to speed on the various projects. Consider talking to a mental health professional to help you ease the transition.
Update Your Training
Take the first few days in the office to review your training. If you have been out of the office for a while, you may need to update your safety and quality certifications and review records management requirements. No doubt there will be software changes too. Take some time to become familiar with the systems. Ask your supervisor if in-person or hands-on training is available because the better you learn the system, the more productive you will be.
Create a Plan
Work with your supervisor and team leader to get back into the swing of things at a comfortable pace. Ensure you understand the projects, priorities, timelines, and key people to connect with. You might need to start with reduced hours or do some work-from-home days.
Show Gratitude
While you were on your workplace leave of absence, your co-workers likely handed much of your workload. Show your appreciation by saying thank you – and bringing treats to the office helps, too.
Read more of our office organizing and business productivity tips. To book a workplace time management seminar, contact Linda today.
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