Returning to work after stroke – review

Review:

Regular reviews are important to help you see how you’re managing your tasks. They also let your employer feedback about how they feel things are going. Think about how this will take place and agree the time frame and expectations. It could be informal, such as 20 minutes every week with your line manager. Keep some brief notes of each meeting. Communicating the stroke to team members You can help decide how to share information about your stroke with other members of staff.

You may choose not to tell them you’ve had a stroke, just that you’ll return part-time and that your tasks have changed. Another option is an email could be sent to your team from your line manager, with text that has been agreed by you.

Breaks

Many people will need to have more frequent breaks to help beat fatigue, such as five minutes after every hour worked.

Time off for appointments

If you need time off for hospital appointments or therapy, bring this up early on and get it agreed with your employer. Some employers have a disability leave policy. This can allow you some time off to go to appointments connected to a disability. It’s one of the ‘reasonable adjustments’ that employers can make to support people with disabilities. Visit ’Your rights at work’ page for more information about reasonable adjustments.

Take a flexible approach

While you’re still recovering from a stroke, new effects can emerge over time. You might find that the support you need changes too. You might need less or more support with certain things. If you’re having regular meetings with your manager, you can talk about these changes and how they’re affecting your work.

You can talk about the things you find difficult, and also let them know if you’re feeling ready to take on more or different tasks. This doesn’t have to be a formal meeting, it can be over a cup of coffee for half an hour on a Friday to see how the week has gone. It can be a good idea to keep brief notes and summarise any actions. Either you or your manager can make the notes, but make sure you agree to them.

Changes at work

There may have been changes within your organisation while you were away on sick leave. If possible, find out about any changes and their likely effects on you or your position before you go back to work, and talk to your manager if you are concerned.

Keep a diary

This can be very simple: just a log of any key dates such as when you took on more or different tasks and how they went. This can help you to see how you’re progressing and re-build your confidence.

“I often wondered: ‘Am I doing ok?’ I think having a diary or keeping a note of when I took on additional tasks would have helped me to see the progress I was making.” Henry, stroke survivor.

Talking to colleagues about your stroke

You may be understandably nervous about how colleagues will react to you and the fact you had a stroke.

Remember it’s your choice whether you discuss your stroke with colleagues. Sometimes being open and answering questions can help people to understand and be more supportive.

Don’t be embarrassed or apologise for the effects of your stroke. It can help your colleagues if you explain what a stroke is and how it has affected you, particularly if the effects are ‘invisible’.

“I was often told I didn’t look like I’d had a stroke. I could tell my team were wondering why I was doing such reduced tasks. I think telling them would’ve helped them to understand my memory problems and educated them a bit about stroke.” Harvinder, stroke survivor.