Back to work

RETURNING to work after a sabbatical can be a challenge. The time may have been for study leave or illness. Irrespective of the reasons it is not like returning to work after a brief absence. There are mine fields that need wary navigation. After such sabbaticals, many need a reorientation. The trauma of losing a loved one or a friend can be hard to get over. You may, as a consequence, find it difficult to adjust to the working world. This is normal. Sometimes, even a week away from the office is all that takes to make us forget what its like to work every day! So the longer we're away, the longer it will take us to readjust. When employees return after a serious illness or injury, they naturally expect sympathy especially from supervisors and co- workers. It is also natural to be dismayed at the changes that may have taken place at the work place. More than one thing could have changed and everything seems different.

There might have been changes in the:

Management

Co-workers

Work systems

Timings

Getting Techier

There could have been some kind of major re-structuring in departments or work policies. New technology or computerisation might have transformed the office. New employees would have joined and sometimes you might find even the old ones behaving differently. These are difficult to cope with. Be mentally prepared to face these when returning from a sabbatical.

Like a new employee, you may have to 'prove' your worth all over again. Demonstrate the value of your professional contribution, but do not 'show off' or antagonise your co-workers in the course of it.

Coping with change

Do not expect:

Sympathy for your loss/problem /disability

Help from others to cope with work - everyone has his assigned duties

The hierarchy to have stood still for you; your subordinates may have moved up the ladder, probably right past you!

Others to tolerate your mood swings. Don't be irritable, and short. Show trust, cut conflict and blend back in, don't force yourself back!

People do remember your super efficiency. Spend more time to get acclimatised to the work and atmosphere

To be `in the loop'. Keep lines of communication open for smooth transition.

To slip back into your routine. Prioritise! Plan!

A friendly welcome. You could face hostility and jealousy if the time off was a reward.

The transition

Remember that you have to cope with change however difficult it is. You need to restart your life. Learn to get tough with tough times. The Mantra? "Work has to get done and done efficiently".

To avoid being overwhelmed by the new environment, meet both your colleagues and seniors before reporting for duty. Take their help and if need be to design a strategy for easing yourself into the work atmosphere again depending on your circumstances.

Take some refresher courses

Update your knowledge and keep abreast of changes

Keep yourself busy. Involvement is the key

Gain confidence in your work

Help yourself. Don't wait for someone to help you. They never will!

Take it slow. Get back into the routine gradually and re- familiarize yourself with your responsibilities. Do not try to overdo things in a bid to overcompensate for your absence. Not only will you accomplish very little, you'll feel frustrated. Be positive and make efforts to perform as you did earlier if not better.

C. LALITHA

lalitha.hyd@cnkonline.com