Returning to Work After a Brain Injury

Following even a mild brain injury, daily life can be affected, including employment. Common hidden affects can be fatigue, short-term memory issues and unable to work in a noisy environment. This means, people may be unable to do the job that they once did in the same way, or may no longer be able to do it safely.

Returning to a familiar workplace

This does not have to mean they are no longer able to work, but may mean they need adaptations to their workplace, or a different role.

Ideally, it is better to return to a job you know well rather than to try a new job as familiarity of the role, colleagues and the working environment can all be helpful.

Helping with the Transition

Although the employee does not have to disclose or give details of their brain injury to their employer, it might be useful to help with the transition.

Depending on how the individual is affected, some ideas that the employer and employee should consider are:

• Gradual return e.g. two or three mornings a week or working from home initially
• Returning with shorter hours
• Allowing more breaks through the day
• Returning with less workload
• Taking up a different role

Supportive Employers

We were please to read a recent press article where Nottingham-based civil and electrical engineering firm McCann, supported a colleague to return to work after a stroke and heart surgery. The full article can be read here.

For more information on this topic, can be found in the Headway Information Library on our website