How soon should I talk to my employer about my disability?

Early intervention after you have first been off sick greatly increases the likelihood of your successful return to work. The longer you are left to languish at home, the less likely it is you will return to your former job. This is especially the case with back injuries, other musculo-skeletal disorders, and stress-related absences.

To encourage an early return to work, some GPs take quite a firm attitude with their patients who have been off sick for several weeks. They see the dangers in not getting back in contact with your employer after weeks of absence. They may prefer to help you to get back to work, even if a lot of adjustments are needed.