October 29, 2019, recruiter Randstad has launched its second instalment of the award-winning ‘returning to work’ video series, featuring real individuals who have suffered serious illness, in a bid to raise awareness for World Stroke Day.
returning to work after a stroke.
The new video series features plumber and heating engineer Terry, who suffered a major stroke on the job, resulting in a seven week stay in hospital and two years out of work.
During the emotional video, Terry explains how his life was saved by a random passerby who just happened to be walking in the same secluded cul-de-sac where he had collapsed, and called an ambulance. He highlights the challenges he faced on the road to recovery and how his extreme determination allowed him to overcome social anxiety, and get back to work and normality.
Terry said: “I had never realised how important the routine of work is as part of having a healthy mindset, until I was forced to stop working due to a major stroke. The time I spent away from work gave me plenty of time to think and focus on getting better. I was so determined to get back to my job, to get back to normal. Being fortunate enough to make a near full recovery, I feel it’s important to highlight that the day-to-day stresses of adult life can get to you, and it’s crucial to take some down time to recover. I partly owe my recovery to my family and friends who supported me through the toughest of times, and allowed me to get back on track. I am also incredibly thankful to the person who found me while I was having my stroke and called an ambulance. I never got to meet them or thank them personally, but they saved my life and I’m extremely grateful for that.
Unfortunately, one in four of us will suffer a stroke, and there will be thousands of people in the UK which will experience a mishap like I did. The key thing to remember is that your life does not end there. If you’re determined, like I was, you will be back to normal before you know it.”
Graham Trevor, HR & Corporate Services Director at Randstad UK said:
“Shocking statistics from the Stroke Association revealed that people who have a stroke at working age, are two to three times more likely to be unemployed eight years after their stroke. Terry’s inspirational story really hits home and will resonate with others who have had to take unexpected time away from the workplace due to a serious illness, such as a stroke. Through our returning to work campaign we hope to educate and inform those that have suffered from serious illness, by sharing valuable information and insight from the inspirational individuals who featured in the films. It’s very important to take your time when considering your return to the workplace, and for most, like Terry, the natural feeling of urgency to get back to work and normality is front of mind. Speak to your employer about a phased return, you don’t want to be overwhelmed by jumping straight back into your former role - this can result in further setbacks, mentally and physically. Your decision to return to work after illness should be primarily guided by the advice of medical professionals and how you are feeling, don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
returning to work after cancer.
With statistics* suggesting that every day 990 people are diagnosed with Cancer and 50% survive the serious illness, there will be a huge percentage of the UK population who are seeking advice on how to return to the workplace after getting the all-clear.
Secondary teacher, Toby, received a call during a year-nine English lesson which unexpectedly changed his life. After being diagnosed with testicular cancer, he explains how he recovered and made a well-awaited return to teaching.
The final instalment of the 2019 video series sees the story of Charmaigne, property and facilities offer, who discovered she had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after not taking a single day off work due to illness in over five years. Her emotional story brings to life the impact and severity of medical treatments which played a key part in helping her recover, while sharing valuable advice to employers about how to help someone return to the workplace after such a life changing event.
See all three videos at: https://www.randstad.co.uk/career-advice/returning-work/serious-illness/
ENDS
*Cancer Research UK, https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics-for-the-uk October 2019
About Randstad: Randstad is an HR services business active in 38 countries around the world. In 2018, Randstad trained over 300,000 people and helped more than 2.5 million candidates find a job with one of 250,000 clients. In 2018, Randstad had approximately 39,000 corporate employees and generated revenue of € 23.8 billion. Randstad was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands. Randstad N.V. is listed on the NYSE Euronext. Randstad is a global leader in the HR services industry, supporting people and organisations in realising their true potential by combining the power of today’s technology with a passion for people. For more information, see www.randstad.co.uk.