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Recreate & prepare – investigate causes and accept support

When the person on sick leave has become a little stronger, it is time to find activities to draw strength from. Many have had interests that gave them energy in the past, but lost them in the stressful life they lived.

Important

  • For many, psychological support is helpful. In this phase, it can be good to meet other people with the same problem, otherwise you easily feel extremely lonely and exposed. Therefore, some form of group therapy with focus on stress management is valuable.
  • In this phase, the person on sick leave and the manager can share the responsibility of maintaining regular contact, as well as contact with colleagues.
  • A plan for returning to work, a rehabilitation plan, is developed.

More information on rehabilitation

Advice

  • The person on sick leave can make a few social visits. Here creativity may be needed, because even if what previously caused the stress was partly for private reasons, or perhaps mainly private reasons, the workplace represents a time when everything was overpowering. The brain remembers this, which means that the physical workplace can be very stressful. Be sure to include the person on sick leave in the invitation to various social activities, so that they do not feel forgotten.
  • Problem-solving conversations are a useful model, and can be led by a rehabilitation coordinator from occupational health, primary care, or from the HR department. The talks lead to an action plan and are a good preparation for both the managers and employees.

Problem-solving conversations:

Problem mapping 1

Manager and third party*

  • What has been done before?
  • What are the causes?
  • Main problem to focus on?

Problem mapping 2

Employee and third party*

  • Extended interview about reasons at work and private information
  • What has been done before?
  • What are the causes?
  • Main problem to focus on?

Problem solving

Manager, employee and third party*

  • Objective: Common view of the problem and solutions to test
  • Action plan

Follow-up

Manager, employee and third party*

  • About 1 time / month by phone or in person with individual and manager
  • At least three follow-ups

* Third party can be a rehab coordinator at Occupational health, or an HR resource person at CBH.