Welcome Back to Work Letter and Email Examples

Welcome Back to Work Letter and Email Examples Welcome Back to Work Letter and Email Examples When an employee has been out to work on sick leave or maternity leave, a special welcome back is always appreciated. A warm welcome helps smooth the transition for the employee and the rest of the team. Review these tips for welcoming back an employee from sick or maternity leave, with example letters for both sets of circumstances. When a coworker is out on  sick leave, coming back to work can take some  adjustment, not just for the employee but his colleagues and boss too. Develop a Plan Dont just assume everything will fall into place once the employee returns. Create a plan to address the following: Scheduling.  Will the employee return to  full-time work  or on a  part-time basis? Will he need  flexible hours? Shorter work days? Telecommuting options?Accommodations. Does the employee require any  accommodations in the office (e.g., a more ergonomic workstation, a cubicle closer to the bathroom, elevator use rather than stairs, additional work breaks)?Workload. Does any work need to re-assigned to other coworkers? Also meet with the workers colleagues to ensure that everyone understands the situation upon his return, keeping the discussion positive and upbeat. Provide a Personal Greeting Personally greet the employee on his first day back. Bring him up to speed on any significant company changes or updates during his absence and help him get back into the flow of daily work, emails, meetings, etc. Be patient during these early days. It may take the employee time to adjust and get back into the groove. Be Empathetic Sick leave can be due to physical or mental illness, and it may be the short or long term. Regardless of the issue or how much you know about it, offer kindness, sympathy, and understanding for your coworker who has gone through a hard time and may still not be fully recovered. Respect Their Privacy Allow your coworker to talk as much or as little as he wants about his illness and absence. Dont overwhelm him with questions, lay on the sympathy, or act like nothing happened. Offer your support, letting him know that youre grateful and relieved to have him back and that your door is always open. Heres a sample welcome back letter to send to an employee who has returned to work from sick leave. Sample Welcome Back Letter From Sick Leave Dear Dean,Welcome back! We are so happy to have you back at the Sunshine House. Weve all missed you, and the residents have been anxious for your return. We were worried about you during your absence, and I speak for everyone here when I say that we are all thankful for your quick recovery.Take whatever time you need to settle in and get back up to speed. Were grateful to have you back so soon.Fond Regards,Eleanor Expand Welcoming a Colleague Back From Maternity Leave Every woman feels differently upon returning to work after maternity leave, and the first weeks back can be a big adjustment accompanied by a mix of emotions. Colleagues want to be supportive but often dont know the right thing to say and may end up putting their foot in their mouth with a comment like Do you miss your little girl? Here are some ways to congratulate a new mother, welcome her back to work, and ease the transition. Bring flowers:  When a group of colleagues buys flowers for a  new mom at the office, its an instant bonding experience. Its a lovely gesture that says they share in the beauty of a new baby as well.Show empathy:  Ask questions, look at pictures, offer hugs, and tell the new mother that you understand she may not be ready to come back. While you may not have the power to grant your co-worker more time off or flexible hours, letting her know that you are there for her is good emotional support. Organize a group of fellow mothers:  Are there other new or nursing moms in your office? Get them together with a private email group or during lunch to commiserate and share how they handle the obstacles. Even if they dont directly work together or dont become fast friends, its helpful to have a fellow mother who understands how difficult it is to return to work after maternity leave. Having someone who understands and whose door is always open goes a long way towards support.Schedule a bring your baby to work day:  Babies can be passed around and pictures can be taken with lots of oohing and aahing, allowing new mothers time to show off their children. Take the new mother to lunch:  Let her sit back, relax, and take a breather from the hectic and challenging life of working while coping with the stresses of being a new mother. Heres a sample welcome message to send to an employee who has returned from maternity leave. Welcome Back From Maternity Leave Letter Example Dear Layla,Its great to have you back in the office after your maternity leave. I hope youll find that Suzanne did an excellent job of keeping things organized in your absence. You do so much for everyone here that it was hard to keep up! We are all grateful that youre back.Congratulations on your sweet, healthy little boy! He is adorable, and Im glad that we were able to offer you the opportunity to spend these few months at home with him.Best regards,Jim Expand