It's time to go back to work!

I'd also be interested to know if you have any suggestions on any reasonable adjustments I might want to ask for. We already have the option to work from home, and whilst I've been off they have brought in flexible working. There isn't really anything else I can think that might help, but it'll be interesting to know others point of view. X 

Hiya. I was off from January to March. Went back for 2 days ( shorter hours) then went off until radiotherapy had finished. Work let me do shorter hours but after  few weeks they wanted to increase and get me back up to full hours within weeks . The hostpital stepped in and said no . So I agreed to add an hour but was only allowed 15 mins break . So I added another half an hour and got my full break entitlement.  I'm struggling to drive when I finish work and it's getting pretty dangerous.  I'm in so much  pain I cant concentrate.  . On holiday for a few weeks now but need to relook at things a bit better  xx good luck 

This is tricky and I don't have 1st hand experience pf returning to work. I am no longer in employed work. I would get some formal advice from MacMillan and/or Breast Cancer Care about your employment rights.

Also has your GP signed you off as fit to work? Have you spoken with Occupational health at your office,

My gut reaction is that phased return should be on full pay. I was a social work manager for many years in a local authority.

Phased return is usually something like so long on reduced hours that is agreed.  An agreement to fulltime in say a month.  However it should be agreed with a contract and set review periods and where your support is from.

All the best

This is tricky as different employers have different terms and conditions. You have been on full pay off since the end of November - that sounds like a generous allowance to me and I would have thought given that, your employer would have something in place that doesn't mean you having to use annual leave or unpaid leave for a phased return.

Like Ricki, I was a social work team manager in a local authority for many years. Our terms and conditions were six months full pay and six months half pay. People who were off for an extended period had a right to a planned phased return to work to allow for continued recovery but also being mindful of the business needs. Usually the plan would last for a month and build up in terms of time over the month. It would include looking at:

• Number of hours to work
• Number of days
• Necessary breaks
• Flexibility of home/work place environment if possible
• Any additional needs (equipment for example).

The phased return was paid and of course after this, there was the flexibility to use annual leave to supplement extra time if needed. We built up annual leave during the time we had been off sick (have you checked this?) so there was usually quite a lot of annual leave to play with.

Finally, it is definitely worth consulting with occupational health who can assess and support you through this process.

Don’t underestimate the impact of treatment and surgery and don’t let your employer do so either. It’s great they have been good so far, hopefully they will continue to be. Perhaps also worth bearing HR in mind for advice.

Hi. Don't forget chemo takes a while to get over too. My oncologist told me at least 6 weeks for the drugs to clear your system. I would of thought a phased return was sensible. I've been lucky that I have been able to work from home the whole of my cancer journey and have been well enough to do so. It's also been on full pay - I get at least 6 months full pay. I have worked reduced hours with the hours I don't work being taken out only sickness allowance. I've been in charge of saying what I can work. 

Hi I kept working after treatment but then hit a brick wall 6 months later and had 11 weeks off. I did a phased return doing a couple of days tge first couple of weeks and upping that to three days for a month, then 4 days so that I was back full time hours after three months.  ut work kindly agreed to my doing my five days in 4 days so I could have the Friday off. I work from home so it easy to do the longer hours with no tiring commute. I would be careful not to rush too quickly through the phases to full time. You will likely feel very tired. Have you spoken to your HR and asked about being paid for the days you don't work during the phased return, even if it is at half pay? I didn't think they could make you use up holiday during a phased return but Macmillan's employment advisor will be able to answer that.

Wishing you the best of luck. 

I was off June - October but no chemo.  I worked LA so had 6 months full, 6 months 1/2 pay.  I did a phased return of 1 day, then 2 days a week then my boss wanted me full time and used my accrued annual leave for remainder of return - that is not LA rules so I declined .!  Did you know you accrue annual leave (the statutory minimum leave including bank holidays, while off sick?   I had yo yo I yo office as no homeworking then but I broke a bone in my foot and was in plaster for 6 weeks and they asked me to work  from home .  I struggled with tiredness after radiotherapy but was back in swing by February