Any transition, even positive ones, can cause an increase in stress and anxiety. Returning to the office after months or perhaps the whole of lockdown is an uncertain situation, which will naturally cause many of us to feel anxious. You may be worried about finding a new routine, maintaining work life balance, staying healthy, getting used to a different way of working, or navigating relationships which have shifted over the past 18 months. This resource is designed to support you in your return to the office with easy to read guidance and stress management tips.
This page also includes information and guidance for managers on how to support your team during this transition.
Hints, tips and resources to support your return to campus:
Being a parent or carer may mean you have additional challenges managing a changing routine. Your first point of contact if you are concerned is your line manager. St Mary's also has policies in place to support you to balance responsibilities at work and home such as Flexible Working, Emergency Dependents Leave, and Unpaid Leave.You can also access:
- St Mary's Carers Network: an opportunity for carers to meet for peer support as well as an opportunity to feed back and inform the support the University provides for carers.
- Younger and Elder Care Advice: St Mary's Employee Assistance Programme includes advice and signposting on accessing younger and elder care.
- Carers UK: Carers UK support Carers and offer advice and guidance on accessing support. Read their article on Support in Work here.
For some people being back in the office means dealing with additional factors related to a disability which are more under your control when working from home. You may feel additional pressure to mask symptoms, have concerns about access or mobility in the office, or keeping yourself safe if you are clinically vulnerable.
If you have any concerns your line manager is your first point of contact. Employers have a legal duty to consider reasonable adjustments to support staff with a disability, these should be reviewed to make sure they are working.
- Disability Staff Network: The network aims to ensure that people with disabilities have a positive experience at St Mary's from the point of applying for a job to progression within the organisation.
- Sunflower Scheme Wellbeing Resources: The Sunflower Scheme allows people to discreetly signal that they may need support due to a hidden disability. If you see someone you are working with or supporting is wearing a Sunflower lanyard you can support the person by asking if they need any adjustments or help, but do not ask them what their disability is.
- Workplace Sensory Adjustments: Blog from Adjust Services, a charity for raising awareness about neurodiversity in the workplace, about sensory adjustments.
- AccessAble Accessibility Guide: access guides and accessible routes around St Mary's locations.
- Occupational Health: You can access independent advice on reasonable adjustments through Occupational Health. Your Line Manager can refer you for an Occupational Health Assessment with a trained physician/nurse who will discuss your disability and how it impacts you at work. Following the meeting they will provide a report to your line manager with their recommendations. Please note, Occupational Health can only make recommendations and St Mary's is not obliged to implement adjustments unless they are reasonable.
- If you are clinically vulnerable, your Line Managers will discuss your individual circumstances and concerns to determine whether you are able to work safely and effectively on campus, remotely or a combination of both (blended working). If you have any concerns please speak to your line manager in the first instance.
If you are experiencing stress and/or anxiety there is a range of support you can access, such as the Employee Assistance Line, and Able Futures. But there is also plenty you can do to support yourself at work as you return:
- Mental Health First Aiders: Mental Health First Aiders can support you if you'd just like to have a chat about what's going on with someone sympathetic and understanding confidentially. They can also signpost you to further support if you need it.
- Togetherall: A free online resource for staff and students in higher education. You can access self-help courses and discuss things that are worrying you anonymously in a safe online space, moderated by trained counsellors.
- Managing Anxiety in the Workplace: We all get anxious at times. But what do you do when anxiety is disrupting your job? Dr. Srini Pillay, a Harvard-trained psychologist, explains how to recognize anxiety, understand when you need clinical help, and provides guidance on navigating the ins and outs of the workplace with anxiety. (LinkedIn Learning course, 1 hour)
- Mind Charity Blog: 4 key things about returning to work when having mental health problems.
- Create a Wellness Action Plan
- Consider asking for reasonable adjustments.
- From our staff:
Managers play a vital role in helping make sure the pressure your staff are under does not exceed their ability to manage it. Managing the risk of workplace stress, and effective change management will be especially important.