How to ease back into work after illness, as King Charles 'keen' to return to duties
When life throws a curveball that impacts our health, it can sometimes be necessary to take extended time away from work to recover and get the treatment we need.
Having to deal with the diagnosis of an illness as well as treatment and recovery is one thing. But, when you feel ready and able, going back to work is a whole other ballpark to navigate that comes with its own questions, expectations and uncertainties.
Some people might feel raring to get back to work, like King Charles III. The monarch, 75, recently revealed that he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer while undergoing treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.
Buckingham Palace announced in early February that the King "commenced a schedule of regular treatments", and was told by his doctors to "postpone public-facing duties".
It's been over a month since Charles revealed his diagnosis. In a new interview, his nephew, Peter Phillips, said that the King is "frustrated" by how long his recovery is taking and is "very keen" to get back to work.
Phillips, the son of Anne, Princess Royal, told Sky News Australia that while his uncle "understands that there’s a period of time that he really needs to focus on himself", Charles is "always pushing his staff and everybody – his doctors and nurses – to be able to say 'actually can I do this, can I do that?'".
"I think the overriding message would be that he’s obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality and is probably frustrated that recovery is taking a little longer than probably he would want it to," Phillips added.
The desire to return to work after dealing with illness is something that Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden can relate to strongly. The 33-year-old professional dancer was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and has been undergoing treatment since, including chemotherapy and a mastectomy.
Due to cancer and treatment, Dowden has been unable to take part in the popular dance competition. She received her diagnosis shortly after she began filming the second series of her BBC Wales TV show Dare to Dance.
The new series of Dare to Dance has been released on Friday 1 March, which will see Dowden return to TV screens as she meets dancers across Wales.
As for her return to Strictly, Dowden says she felt “robbed” of the past year because of her cancer treatment but aims to fully recover and go back to dancing on the competition show.
“Whether it’s teaching at my dance academy, being with my Strictly family, whether it’s talking, dancing with my husband and choreographing, that is my happiest place. That has been my medicine, I guess,” she told the BBC.
“The aim is, if Strictly will have me back, to be back on that dancefloor.”
What employers can do when an employee wants to return to work
For many who are thinking of returning to work after a long period of illness, it can be a daunting prospect. Research shows that, if not managed appropriately, going back to work can be a risk to mental health.
Sarah Baldry, Vice President of People at mental health support provider Wysa, says that when an employee feels ready to go back to work, employers “should have an open and honest conversation from the start about workloads”.
“A full understanding of the issues can help managers make the necessary adjustments, reducing the likelihood of challenges further down the line,” she explains. “Bosses should work to create a stigma-free environment where workers feel comfortable enough to be honest about stress, worry and burnout concerns.”
She also emphasises that organisations need to be flexible and willing to work with their employees to ensure they can thrive after an extended period away.
“There are a number of small actions that can help, such as the freedom to go for a walk if things get too much, providing team lunches to help facilitate working relationships, alongside organisational shifts like having a culture that promotes work/life balance, accommodating flexibility in schedules and locations so people can prioritise both their job and their health, and providing counselling and support through employee assistance programmes that are rooted in evidence and come with clinically validated psychological input,” she says.
“Things won’t always go well and what your employees need to flourish at work will change as people leave and join, or priorities change.
“Organisations will need to respond to developments. It’s essential to be flexible and responsive, in a way that is consistent with employee mental health being a key priority.”
What employees who want to return to work can do
If you are an employee who is thinking about going back to work after an extended period of illness, Suzie Dawes, HR and people expert at expert advice organisation caba, shares her advice.
“Going back to work after a career break can be daunting and regardless of how long you have been away from the workplace for, it’s normal to feel both nervous and excited about returning," she says.
"Although it’s not uncommon for people to lose their confidence after a career break, especially when it comes to explaining it to prospective employers. It can be difficult to consider simply ‘picking up where you left off’. You could also be nervous about your break going against you."
The do's and dont's to manage stress and manage your return to work include:
Do: follow a realistic morning routine that will help get you in the mindset for work and start your day on the right foot.
Don’t: dwell on the negatives (e.g. how unconfident or behind you feel). Instead, focus on why you used to enjoy working and the areas you excelled at.
Do: give yourself plenty of time to settle in, especially if you’ve been away for a considerable amount of time.
Don’t: be too hard on yourself. This applies to easing yourself back into the work routine, as well as being kinder to yourself when it comes to remembering and learning new things.
Do: stay in tune with your body. If you’re getting headaches or feeling particularly tired, take note of these signs and prioritise your wellbeing. Some easy tips include getting a good night’s sleep, not logging on outside of work hours and taking breaks.
"Whether you’re returning to work after a period of illness or simply from taking a career break, it’s key to prioritise your mental health to avoid burnout and make your transition back to working life as smooth as possible," Dawes adds.
Read more about mental health:
Four mindful practises to ward off work stress (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Employees reveal 10 simple things that boost mental health at work (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Four tell-tale signs you’re suffering from burnout (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
