Going back to work after small acute thalmic infarct. I need advice about getting back to work and managing after stroke.

Hi BJF,

We are sorry to hear about your stroke and the difficulties you’ve been having at workplace. Returning to work after a stroke can definitely have its challenges, especially if you aren’t in a supportive environment.

We would suggest having a chat to your HR department and the Injury Management Consultant and disclosing the difficulties you’ve been having at work. You can also seek advice from the service ‘Jobs in Jeopardy’. They are a government funded program offering a free service to any worker who is at risk of losing their job due to injury, illness or disability. Their number is (07) 3253 5000.

I think it would be helpful for you to give StrokeLine a call and they can discuss this with you further.

StrokeLine

1800 787 653

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Warm regards,

Chloe and Kath

StrokeLine

Hi,

My husband suffered a stroke in November and has been dealing with a great rehab team for last cpl months which involved numerous attempts to discuss a return to work plan which was supposed to commence in april. 

Not only did they (work) not offer any options that ignored our regular requests to work on a plan. To date, it's been two mths in trying to get them to assist and nothing.

Today, rehab clinic advised that he will be temp discharged as the unit is converting to a fevers clinic thx to covid-19. 

As soon as his employer recieved notification about this, they contacted us now providing return to work plan which is nothing near to our original plan ie work from home or gradually return on very low hrs. Now that the medical support has been disconnect, they all of sudden want to help and we calling BS. 

It's disgusting how a big 4 financial institution not provide their staff any assistant if there is any outside involvement. We have no idea what to do next and definitely not in a position to return now especially with the virus going around. I can only imagine that a lot of stroke survivours have been shafted from ruthless employers. I wish i had advice to provide but yeah, we in same boat as you. 

Hi BJF,

Here are some more answers from the community.

Tanya: I wonder if job access May be able to help you? https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/home

Stacey: Sometimes a sit down and a coffee/ chat to discuss how you felt about that comment during a difficult time can be powerful. But i understand there are some insensitive or naive ballbusters out there sometimes 🤔
Get the doctor to write a clear certificate outlining your current capabilities/ stress triggers (including personal mental wellbeing). It's hard for people who havent experienced stroke to understand the healing process (especially cognition & forms of ptsd from whats happened), plus even if they claim to know... everyones healing journey is different. You are not your supervisors friends, cousins, uncle who once blah blah blah and now their back at work on day 5...
Cognitive impairments (temp or perm) and additional anxieties brought on by the event/experience is sooo hard to explain to people, because they can't see it. They can't relate ... but it's there, there for you.
I feel for you, truely. This must be a daunting time. Hang in there, take one day at a time and if you feel the heat, start keeping a diary of how you are being treated (if you are super worried that is). This may also help with your confidence on the memory front, keep examples of any stressors for dr and simply help as a stress relief to diarise (generally speaking). I found diarising appointment discussions for my father theraputic. I still do it, and now feel relieved when i have forgotten something and can confidently reflect back on the detail.
Anyway, Hope all works out well for you, your personal health is #1.

Nicholas: Do you have a Union where you work and if so are you a member

Jo: Yes, I was told I was not performing and deemed unsafe in the office as I had a setback in the office. My hours on my return to work plan was changed not the complexity. I was also left alone and not supported. I was then told to go on unpaid sick leave and have had to prove I am able to be at work . I have now been terminated as apparently I have not improved or will never improve which is absolutely incorrect.

BJF,

I empathise with your situation and your question; ‘Does anyone have problems with bosses or supervisors…how did you deal with it?’

I work for a Victorian Government department and had a stroke in 2017. After 3 months sick leave, in consultation with an Injury Management Consultant, I resumed my job on a graded return to work plan which led to 3 highly productive days per week. I submitted the plan pursuant to section 65 of The Fair Work Act 2017 and Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Issues

Over 12 months I had 3 Injury Management Consultants and their contribution was negligible.

My managers were ill-equiped to deal with a return to worker, exacerbated by their in-fighting and inability to do meaningful hand-overs. With 3 managers in 12 months, I was back to square one; submitting yet more return to work plans.

My latest manager very much fits your description. As suggested by one of your readers, I took detailed notes every time there was a meeting with that manager. This escalated to where I had an independent person attend all meetings with that manager.

Interim Solution

With reference to the aforementioned Acts, I submitted a formal bullying claim through the organisation’s Workplace Relations Department (WRD) and Worksafe. I also lodged my claim with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission but have placed this in abeyance as my claim for workers compensation has now been accepted