How to help with the return to work after being furloughed or long periods of unemployment
Coming back to work after a long time away and being out of the loop can be overwhelming, especially for people who have been furloughed or out of work for a while. Even if you are excited at first, the days leading up to the first day back may cause feeling of anxiousness. Fortunately, there are people that can help you with the transition from within the work place and there are also some techniques you can use to feel less anxious when you are back.
Discuss the transition with your line Manager
Your manager will be your port of call on a daily basis and should help you fit back into the team. One of the ways might be starting back part-time with a flexible furlough. This can ease you back into the working routine and not going straight back into an eight-hour day. It will also mean you can re-familiarise with everything or see what projects are being worked on and the objectives of the team. Having catchups with your manager and making sure you’re not being overloaded with work is important to make the transition go smoothly.
Get prepared for the social aspect of the office
Being out of the work bubble for any length of time and not being used to social aspect of the office can make it hard when you first go into work. If you’re not used to doing back-to-back calls or walking into a busy office, it can be daunting. Make sure you tell your line manager if you are finding it hard to manage and put in place some helpful things like; 1-to-1 catch ups, staggering projects and meetings. You could also try find a quieter space to talk to people or try emulate the type of working environment you work best in.Â
Ask about an induction
Ask your manager before starting if you will have an induction. These can be great way for new and returning employees to get to grips with what is happening at the company. You can go through what business activities have happened, what people are working towards and any questions you might have. This is a good time to see what tasks you will have to do and how you will fit in with the new activities.
Keep up the CommunicationÂ
Communication is key, if you are finding it hard let someone know and work out what you can do to negate any issues. Communicate with your team too and ask as many questions as you can. You will have to find out any information you need for your work and understand what your team is working on.
Take Breaks and don’t put too much pressure on yourself
Don’t feel as though you have to catch up all at once or that you have to do everything in one go. Take your lunch hour and small breaks to make sure you have the energy and focus to complete your tasks. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much information, ask for the key things and then start filling out your information as you go along or when you need too.
Techniques for stress
It might get stressful going back in or starting your new job so having some techniques you can use to help will manage your levels of anxiousness. One good way is to use music as it has a great ability to transform your mood. Making a playlist of chilled out songs you can listen too can help bring calm. Meditation or deep breathing can also help and a wonderful way to clear the mind and you can do it almost anywhere. Finding a quite spot or on your break to close your eyes and allow your mind to be still. Being active and going outside can instantly give you a boost. A jog or doing yoga in a break or just a walk around the block can give you a fresh perspective on things.Â
If you have been furloughed or waiting for your next opportunity why not take the time before hand to learn new skills to develop your career. At Free2learn we have courses that will help you gain new skills and help you with looking for employment. Go to: https://free2learn.org.uk/courses/ to see which ones could help you back into work.
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