Return To Work - Questions that go beyond ‘ How Are You?’
A return to work interview, pretty standard procedure, right, a few questions, a tick in the box and done. This can be true with a straightforward period of absence, let’s say the flu, for example, but when an employee is returning from a stress-related absence, it’s a good opportunity to go beyond the standard
We’ve put together some questions to help get a clear picture of where your employee is at, as they return to work and how you can help?
Wellbeing
Questions that show you care about more than just attendance:
How have you been managing day-to-day while away?
Are there specific triggers we should be aware of?
What support has been most helpful during your absence?
Underlying issues
Understand more that the superficial data:
If there are a number of short term absences, ask if there are drivers?
If a person is also having medical appointments, ask if there is anything else going on?
If the absences are out of character, explain that its unusual and is there anything we need to know or can support with?
Workload & Environment
Understand what returning to work will look like:
Are any tasks or projects overwhelming right now?
Would adjustments like flexible hours or remote work help?
Are there colleagues or teams you feel particularly supported by—or stressed by?
Support Needs
Provide routes to ongoing support:
Are there resources (counselling, mentoring, training) that would help?
Would regular check-ins or catch-ups be useful?
How can we prevent stress from building up again?
Forward Planning
Build a plan together
How can I/we help you succeed during this transition?
Are there ways your team can support you better?
What’s one small change that would make a big difference for you right now?
Return to work meetings are more than a formality; they are an opportunity to rebuild and reset for the individual in question, and they are the time to be curious about what stress looks and feels like for this person and how you can support that.