Return to work update

Well, I've been back on the gradual return to work for just over a month now. It's going ok.  I feel like I am contributing at a decent level.  I get tired as the day goes on and I notice that is when I struggle with vocabulary (like searching for the right word) and/or making spelling mistakes on emails etc.  I am up to 20 hours this week, jumping to 30 next week!  Hope I can manage ok as I get up to full time August 28th.  This week I am going in at 9am instead of 10am, which means I get up at 5:30 so I have time to workout, shower, dress, do breakfast and walk the dog all before commuting to work. It's a lot for someone off for cancer for over a year!  But I am managing.  Getting better at not working when I am not at work too. Because I realize I need the rest otherwise I am not as effective when I am there.

The week I returned I had an interview for a new role, lateral position as a manager in an HR branch at Cabinet Office.  Amazingly I won the temporary position!  And my director eventually agreed to let me go!  I start there September 11th, as she needs me to stick around to deliver on the upcoming retreat for her.   I will be back to full time hours at that point so it should be ok. I did tell the new director I will be reporting to about my leave for cancer and gradual return so she knows.  She seems really great and from what I hear there is a great culture there, good work-life balance, and they just did a flex work pilot where people can work from home!  It all sounds good.  My title is going to be Manager, People and Culture, and I will be leading HR projects and programs, with a team for 4 or 5 staff.  I am excited to try something new. I feel like if I hadn't got sick I would be due for a move and so why not go forward like I didn't get sick?  Time to take control of my career back.  Especially when the branch at MMAH has changed so drastically - I feel much less ties and loyalty there, and frankly I can already tell I am not learning much there anymore.  This retreat I am helping with - I have already done 5 other retreats of a similar nature. It's time for something else!  It is an 18 month secondment, so we will see how it goes. Should I want to become an HR director at some point, it will be good to get more experience in a different ministry and this is more "central agency" experience.

I am proud of myself for taking on this challenge of a competition, and being successful!