What do I need when returning to work after bipolar illness?

A checklist of what to think about when preparing to return to work:

• Talk to your manager about a phased to work and build in a midway review point.
• If your employer knows about your diagnosis
  • share and copy of the Bipolar UK Employers Guide with your manager.
• If your employer does not know about your diagnosis
  • think about if now is the time - see the Bipolar UK Employees Guide for help.
•  Make sure you take in any sick notes, not previously handed in, so that sick pay is not affected.
• Think about your journey to work and plan for back ups.
• If you have children. or caring responsibilities, are these affected?
• Check that your next of kin information is up to date with your employer.
• Ask about any employee assistance programmes to support your return to work.
• Consider if a temporary adjustment would help you.
• You can ask for an Occupational Health assessment on return, if you have had this in the past.
• Or ask for a Occupational Health assessment to develop any reasonable adjustments you might need.
  • details of how to identify what reasonable adjustments you can request are in the Bipolar UK Employees Guide (p.13)