What is a return to work plan?

A return to work plan is a tool for employers to use when helping employees return to work after an extended absence. The plan should make the return to work a smooth transition for the employee and allow for both sides to understand the exact expectations. A return to work plan can be used for employees who have been absent for:

• parental leave
• injury
• illness
• mental health

The return to work plan should be completed before the employee actually comes back to work, with both sides agreeing on what it will look like. It should be done in a timely manner so that the employee can return to work safely.

Having a return to work plan can help the employee recover and get used to the pace of work. It can be hard getting back into the swing of things after even a short absence, so those who are gone for an extended period of time will need extra help when they return to work.

The return to work plan should allow the employee to feel comfortable doing the tasks of their job as well as being part of the team. The plan should also make the transitional period a defined amount of time so that both employer and employee will know when they are expected to be doing all the tasks they did before the absence.

Why the return to work plan is important

The return to work plan is important as it can benefit both the employee and the employer. The employee will benefit from having help getting back into the swing of things after their prolonged absence.

Having a return to work plan will also benefit the employer as there will be a defined time period for the transition which helps them know when to expect the employee to be back to normal. No one wants to rush someone back to full capacity after a long absence, but without a defined timeline the employee could prolong the help they are getting for selfish reasons.

A return to work plan also helps the entire team. When someone is absent for a long time, their work has to be redistributed among different employees. When there is a defined return to work plan for the absent employee, there will be no confusion about who is doing what task. This way tasks will continue to be done efficiently and there won’t be mistakes such as two people doing the same thing.

Having an employee return to work after a prolonged absence is also good for the company budget. It is expensive to have someone on leave from work and there could be a slow down in productivity due to one fewer worker.

Related:  How to Manage Employees

How to write a return to work plan

In order to have a successful return to work plan there has to be a few elements that have to be included. The following are the elements that should be written into the return to work plan.

Return to Work Goal

Having a discussion with your employee about what the collaborative goal should be for their return to work is imperative. It will help both you and the employee get on the same page when it comes to how quickly they can get back to their normal duties.

For example, if the employee is returning to work after an injury, will they need any temporary accommodations that will make their work environment safer? Discussing this type of issue before they return to work will mean that you can have everything set up for them before they start and you can be assured that they will be safe in the workspace. This step would be doubly important if the employee got injured on the job.

Defined Activities that Need to Be Done to Achieve Goal

The return to work plan should identify the responsibilities of the employee and employer, as well as any other employee who might be helping with duties until they are back at full capacity.

For example, if the employee was on leave of absence due to illness they will need to be clear about their own energy levels. If the employee does not define their energy levels and then works too hard, they could end up relapsing. In order for the employee to be responsible for their own recovery and return to work, they will need to take regular breaks and stick to that schedule.

Timeframes of Achieving Goal

While working on a return to work goal the employee and employer should set realistic goals as to when the employee will be back to full functionality. This is important as it will help both employee and employer know what the exact expectations are for the return to work. This will also mean that any other employees who had been helping out while they were away will be able to know exactly when they are no longer in charge of said duties.

An example of this would be if the number of hours the employee works will gradually increases over time. If the employee is having a hard time with energy, they may need to work up to working a full eight-hour day. By having a timeframe defined, it will be clear how many hours the employee will be working each week.

Healthcare Needs

Sometimes, when people return to work, they are still in need of medical care of some sort. If this is the case then it is important for you to provide what might be needed for this to happen.

A common healthcare need after a woman has her maternity leave is a place where she can pump her breast milk. This would mean that she would need a private place where she could pump and a refrigerator or space in the office refrigerator to store the breast milk until she could bring it home. This is an essential part of any return to work plan for women returning from parental leave.

The above elements of a return to work plan are essential for a successful return to work for both employee and employer.

How to help make the return to work smooth

Even with a plan in place, the return to work can be difficult. Here are a few tips on making that return to work smooth.

• Re- orientation day. If they are able, get the employee returning to work to come in just before their planned return so that they can get re-acquainted with the office. This will give them a chance to get updated on any changes that might have happened while they were away. Make sure that if there have been any staff changes you introduce them to new employees. Related: Employee Orientation vs. Onboarding Process: Differences and Why Both Matter
• Check in on them regularly. Even if you have a clear return-to-work plan, make sure that they are doing well as they settle back into work. Make sure they feel supported as they make this transition and be patient if things seem difficult at first.
• Meet with support staff. Make sure to have a meeting with any staff that took over their duties while they are away. Doing this before the employee returns to work will make sure that everyone is aware of what is happening and will allow you to clarify why they will be done with their extra duties.
• Throw a welcome-back party. Once the employee has returned to work, try to set up a time when staff can get together to welcome them back to the office. This will make the employee feel connected with their coworkers and know that they are still part of the team. Something small, perhaps before a team meeting, would suffice.

Using these tips for making a return to work smooth, will be of benefit to both the company and the employee. The company will know that they have done everything they could to make the return to work easy and the employee will benefit from the added effort.