Our jobs and careers are major parts of our lives. We spend a huge portion of our waking hours at work, and our careers are a significant source of our personal identity and self-worth. But our jobs do not define our lives, and for one reason or another, many employees take extended periods of time off of work beyond the basic use of paid time off (PTO).
In fact, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Department of Labor, 13% of employees reported taking time off work for a reason covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) within the 12 months preceding the survey.
It can be difficult for employees to transition back into the workplace after taking extended time off, but assuming your employee is a valuable asset to the organization, it’s important to make sure he or she is able to successfully reenter his or her career and pick up where he or she left off. In an article for Harvard Business Review, Anne Sugar explores this very topic and offers five tips.
Check in During Leave
Out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind when an employee is on leave. Talk to your employee about a mutually agreeable time for quick, periodic check-ins. This could start with once per month and increase as the employee gets closer to returning to the office.
Reach Out Right Before Their Return
When your employees are getting ready to return to the office, it’s a good idea to check in and talk about some logistics. What needs to be addressed with HR? How do they want their return announced? Do they have any particular concerns or questions about their return to the workplace?
Carefully Plan Their Return
This is specific to the first day. Think about the touch points for your employees—who will they interact with and when? Have those individuals been briefed that the employees will be returning? Have their questions or concerns been addressed? Finally, Sugar recommends ending the returning employees’ first day early so they can ease back into the job.
Consider Phased Transition
It can be a bit overwhelming to jump right back into a job after months away. You may want to talk with your returning employee about easing back into the swing of things. “In the early weeks of your employee’s return, focus on providing background on projects and results,” says Sugar. “This extra time and effort will help the staff member get oriented and set them up for success later on.”
Check in Frequently
Finally, be sure to check in with the returning employees more frequently at first. Make sure they are adjusting well, and see if there is anything they need. It’s impossible to think of everything, so asking them for input is important not only to ensure nothing has been overlooked but also to keep them engaged.
Employees have busy lives outside of work, and it’s not uncommon for employees to need to take some extended time off. Because employees are such valuable resources, it’s important to accommodate these needs and help ensure an efficient, effective transition back into the workplace.