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Our Return to Work Interview Script Template streamlines conversations after absence, ensuring consistent documentation and support for employee wellbeing.
1 [Welcome]
1.1 Hello [Employee's Name], welcome back to work! I will be conducting your return to work interview today.
2 [Purpose]
2.1 The purpose of this interview is to ensure a smooth transition back into the workplace and address any concerns or needs you may have.
2.2 Before we begin, I hope you had a restful time during your leave, and I want to assure you that we are here to support your return.
2.3 How are you feeling about being back?
3 [Health and Wellbeing]
3.1 Before we discuss your role and responsibilities, I would like to inquire about your health and well-being.
3.2 How are you feeling physically and mentally?
3.3 Have there been any changes since you were last here?
We prioritise the well-being of our employees,
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The purpose of a return to work interview is to facilitate a smooth transition for an employee who is returning to work after a period of sick absence. The interview allows the employer or interviewer to:
Welcome the employee back and make them feel valued and supported.
Assess the employee's physical and mental well-being and address any concerns they may have.
Discuss any changes or updates that may have occurred during the employee's absence.
Clarify the employee's role and responsibilities to ensure they are aware of any adjustments or updates.
Identify any accommodations or support the employee may need for a successful return.
Reestablish communication and collaboration within the team and provide an opportunity for the employee to reconnect with colleagues.
Address any questions or concerns the employee may have and offer ongoing support throughout the transition.
Overall, the purpose of the return to work interview is to create an open and supportive environment, ensure a smooth reintegration into the workplace, and address any issues that may affect the employee's well-being or performance.
Related HR resources and workflow
Explore the HR resources that may be relevant before and / or after using the Return to work interview script, helping you understand the wider process, maintain appropriate documentation and follow a consistent approach.
This form should be used to record the Return to Work Interview between the manager and employee.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Places a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees, including providing a safe and supportive return to work process.
Equality Act 2010: Prohibits discrimination, harassment, and victimization in the workplace, including ensuring that return to work processes are fair and non-discriminatory.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Requires employers to conduct risk assessments and take appropriate measures to protect employees' health and safety during their return to work.
Work and Families Act 2006: Introduces the right to request flexible working arrangements, which can be considered during the return to work process to support work-life balance.
Data Protection Act 2018: Sets out rules for the processing of personal data, ensuring that any information collected during return to work interviews is handled confidentially and in compliance with data protection principles.
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006: Prohibits age discrimination, ensuring that the return to work process is fair and unbiased for employees of all ages.
Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992: Provides rights and protections for trade unions and their members, which may be relevant if trade union representatives are involved in the return to work process.
Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.
Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.
Yes, we highlight the areas of the document that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.
Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable format (such as .doc or .xls) so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.
If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Return to work interview script template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.
AI can produce a document quickly, but effective HR documentation needs to be more than well-written words. It needs to reflect relevant UK employment law, HR best practice, practical considerations and the circumstances in which it will be used. These resources have been professionally developed around that wider HR context, drawing on extensive practical experience, rather than simply generating a generic document from a prompt.
Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director
Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.
He has extensive practical experience of managing sick management processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.
"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."
"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."
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