Improving Return to Work outcomes

Return to work resources for workers and managers

Returning to work after experiencing depression or anxiety can be challenging for both workers and the people supporting them.

These resources have been developed to help workers and managers understand, plan and navigate the return-to-work process in a practical, supportive and psychologically safe way.

The resources include separate guides for workers and managers, supported by workbooks, planning tools, reflective exercises and return-to-work plan templates. They are designed to help people work through the process step by step — from understanding depression and anxiety, to planning a return to work, developing suitable work arrangements, communicating with others, and reviewing the plan as needs change.

Purpose of the resources

These resources are designed to help:

Workers prepare for and take part in their return-to-work process after experiencing depression or anxiety.

Managers understand their role in supporting an employee who is on leave, preparing to return to work, or working under a return-to-work plan.

The resources focus on practical planning, including:

suitable duties and work arrangements
reasonable adjustments and accommodations
psychological safety during return to work
communication that protects privacy and dignity
reviewing and revising the return-to-work plan over time

The resources were developed through the Improving Return-to-Work Outcomes for Workers Experiencing Mental Health Conditions project, funded through the WorkCover Board Tasmania’s Healthier, Safer and Productive Workplaces Grant program and undertaken by the University of Tasmania. The project aimed to improve return-to-work experiences and outcomes for workers returning after an absence related to depression and/or anxiety.

Resources for workers

These resources are for workers who are preparing for, or thinking about, returning to work after experiencing depression or anxiety.

They can help workers:

understand how depression and anxiety may affect work capacity
think about their current strengths, limitations and support needs
prepare for conversations with their employer
identify goals for returning to work
contribute to a practical return-to-work plan
review what is working and what may need to change

To support the below resources for workers there is a workbook with supporting resources:

Return to Work Returning Workers Workbook
(DOCX, 125.4 KB)

Worker guide

Welcome
https://utas.shorthandstories.com/return-to-workresources-for-workers-welcome-29mns/index.html

Topic 1: Understanding depression and anxiety
https://utas.shorthandstories.com/return-to-workresources-for-workers-topic-1-92nms/index.html

Topic 2: Support from the workplace while on leave
https://utas.shorthandstories.com/return-to-work-resources-for-workers-topic-2-2a32/index.html

Topic 3: Planning to return to work
https://utas.shorthandstories.com/return-to-work-resources-for-workers-topic-3-29j3ns/index.html

Topic 4: Developing a return-to-work plan
https://utas.shorthandstories.com/return-to-workresources-for-workers-topic-4-29new87/index.html

Topic 5: Implementing, reviewing and adapting a return-to-work plan
https://utas.shorthandstories.com/return-to-work-resources-for-workers-topic-5-8953fd/index.html

Topic 6: Building a return-to-work plan and case studies
https://utas.shorthandstories.com/return-to-work-resources-for-workers-topic-7-92n34/index.html

Resources for managers

These resources are for managers who are supporting an employee to return to work after experiencing depression or anxiety.

They can help managers:

understand their role and responsibilities
maintain appropriate and supportive contact while a worker is on leave
prepare for return-to-work discussions
identify suitable duties and workplace adjustments
support psychological safety during return to work
develop, implement and review a return-to-work plan
communicate arrangements in a way that respects the worker’s privacy and dignity

To support the below resources there is a managers workbook with supporting resources:

Return to Work Managers Workbook
(DOCX, 149.5 KB)