Back to work interview

SapphireFlames

For the last week I've been signed off work ill with anxiety disorder. I've already emailed my manager a copy of the doctor's certificate, and it does have "anxiety disorder" as the reason for absence.

At my workplace, whenever anyone is off sick they have to attend a back-to-work interview and/or fill in a form about why they were away. This is a very sensitive topic for me - I've never been off work due to mental health issues before (I have had anxiety episodes in the past but this is the first time I've ever sought help for it). I was put on anti-depressants about 10 days ago and part of the reason for my absence is due to the starting side-effects of these.

Thankfully the side effects have gone and I feel well enough to go back to work tomorrow. What I'm worried about is how detailed will the back to work interview be - will I have to tell my manager the exact reasons for the anxiety disorder and what treatment I'm receiving for it? I don't think it's completely work-related anyway, although there have been a lot of stressful changes at work recently, I don't think that was the cause of my disorder since I was feeling anxious and depressed even when I was at home at the weekends. Many of my worries were about personal/family issues.

It started all of a sudden about 7 weeks ago and it got to the point where I couldn't relax at all and eventually I lost enjoyment in my usual hobbies. I was hoping it would go away by itself, but it gradually got worse, and the negative thoughts became very intrusive, to the point that I was waking up early in the mornings feeling really down and full of dread for the day ahead. I would dread that I face another day of negative thoughts in my mind. That is the point where I decided I couldn't carry on like this and I took time off work and went to the doctor for help.

Has anyone got any advice on how I should approach the back to work interview?

LittleVoice

SapphireFlames wrote: »

For the last week I've been signed off work ill with anxiety disorder. I've already emailed my manager a copy of the doctor's certificate, and it does have "anxiety disorder" as the reason for absence.

At my workplace, whenever anyone is off sick they have to attend a back-to-work interview and/or fill in a form about why they were away. This is a very sensitive topic for me - I've never been off work due to mental health issues before (I have had anxiety episodes in the past but this is the first time I've ever sought help for it). I was put on anti-depressants about 10 days ago and part of the reason for my absence is due to the starting side-effects of these.

Thankfully the side effects have gone and I feel well enough to go back to work tomorrow. What I'm worried about is how detailed will the back to work interview be - will I have to tell my manager the exact reasons for the anxiety disorder and what treatment I'm receiving for it? I don't think it's completely work-related anyway, although there have been a lot of stressful changes at work recently, I don't think that was the cause of my disorder since I was feeling anxious and depressed even when I was at home at the weekends. Many of my worries were about personal/family issues.

It started all of a sudden about 7 weeks ago and it got to the point where I couldn't relax at all and eventually I lost enjoyment in my usual hobbies. I was hoping it would go away by itself, but it gradually got worse, and the negative thoughts became very intrusive, to the point that I was waking up early in the mornings feeling really down and full of dread for the day ahead. I would dread that I face another day of negative thoughts in my mind. That is the point where I decided I couldn't carry on like this and I took time off work and went to the doctor for help.

Has anyone got any advice on how I should approach the back to work interview?

The back to work interview should be about your being back at work not about why you were off work.

If the absence was not due to a work-related situation, then just say so. However you suggest there was perhaps something at work which contributed.

If your work situation did have a bearing on the reason for your absence then it would be sensible to discuss this with your manager to see if anything can be done differently in the future.

The rest of the interview should be to bring you up to speed with what has happened while you've been away and perhaps to review what is coming up.

The main thing is for you to feel positive about the return to work.

SapphireFlames

Thanks for that. I've been off sick in the past with severe colds/flu, so I know what questions are on the back to work interview form. Here are some of them:

[FONT=&quot]What are the reasons for absence?
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]What was done to aid recovery? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Is the illness likely to reoccur?
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Is this absence related to a disability that comes under the Disability Discrimination Act? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Is the illness work related, if so what are the causes?

How detailed would I need to be in my answers to these questions?
[/FONT]

Sambucus_Nigra

What are the reasons for absence? See sick note
What was done to aid recovery? Doctor prescribed treatment
Is the illness likely to reoccur? No idea
Is this absence related to a disability that comes under the Disability Discrimination Act? No idea, I will check it out and get back to you.
Is the illness work related, if so what are the causes? Potentially the stress at work caused by changes x and y could have contributed.

I am feeling much better, could you bring me up to speed on what happened whilst I was away, did we get that order/contract/something that was happening before I was off?

Sasha101

Hi Sapphire

I have to deal with return to work interviews. I start by welcoming the employee back to work and give them a print out of all their absences (paid and unpaid) for the past three years. I mention Promoting Health at Work triggers (three seperate absences within 12 weeks or absence which lasts longer than one month may trigger a meeting from Occ Health and HR Department)

It's a chance to discuss the reason for absence in a supportive way and is not meant to be too intrusive. It is for the benefit of both you and the employer if honest reasons are given for the absence.

Please be open and honest with your employer as they should ensure work related issues are kept to a minimum and may be more understanding and accomodating for your personal or family issues in future e.g if you need time off for a son or daughter etc they would rather swap your shifts around rather than have you absent.

Sambucus_Nigra

Sasha101 wrote: »

Hi Sapphire

I have to deal with return to work interviews. I start by welcoming the employee back to work and give them a print out of all their absences (paid and unpaid) for the past three years. I mention Promoting Health at Work triggers (three seperate absences within 12 weeks or absence which lasts longer than one month may trigger a meeting from Occ Health and HR Department)

Happy happy joy joy...

Uncertain

Although it is probably too late in this case.....

Most doctors are willing to write something deliberately vague on a sick (fit) note if it is likely to cause further problems. Obviously what they put has to be true so they are not going to write "broken arm" in a case such as this. However medical diagnosis is a huge grey area and they can usually come up with something!

That said, if there are work factors contributing to a mental disorder, then the firm can only address them if they are told. Most lawyers will tell you that a doctor writing "work related stress" is of little legal value but it doesn't half make a lot of firms sit up and take notice!