Returning to Work after extended leave – knocking imposter syndrome on the head.

People take extended leave for many reasons – maternity leave, caring for family members, illness, mental health – a myriad of reasons.  Returning to work can be daunting especially if you work in a rapidly changing industry – just stepping back into a job can put you outside of your comfort zone.

Prepare yourself mentally!

Remember that, although it may seem like it, very few of us have had smooth-sailing and perfect work histories. We are humans and not just resources. Don’t try to cover up in your resume – state clearly and simply what you have been doing and what you can offer now.

While there is a lot of talk and discussion about juggling work, home, parenthood and elderly parents we sometimes forget the very real “imposter syndrome”. This is when people have an inability to recognise their skills, experience and accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud.” This can happen easily when out of practice.

I think most of us can recognise this feeling but hide this secret thought and just hope no one finds out. Studies suggest 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at some point in their career.

What we have found happens occasionally in an interview is an unconscious sabotage, so candidates don’t express themselves in a manner which shows their level of professionalism and experience.

When a role is offered to the candidate they can find reason not to take the job – too far to travel, not enough money, child care problems all of which had been discussed and agreed to prior to the initial interview.

We have just placed a woman returning to work after extended leave. While the staff in the company are very friendly and supportive it has been an extremely anxious time for the candidate. Apart from the logistics of childcare, adjusting the wardrobe and coordinating new family schedules with her partner, all the other above issues came up.

In recognising this very real fear we were able to reassure, support and advise her so her commencement with the company was a little less nerve racking.  We fully expect this capable and experienced person to really shine once she settles in.

You need to make sure you have a strong support network around you, which includes, family, friends and the right recruitment company. You know, the recruitment company that wants you to succeed as much as you do.

Lots of free information and training events happening around the country. Please refer to

Safe Work Australia  https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/news-and-events/news/national-safe-work-month

Queensland : https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safe-work-month

Northern Territory: http://www.worksafe.nt.gov.au/NewsRoom/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=146

Victoria: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/worksafemonth/home

NSW : http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/health-and-safety/how-we-can-help/safe-work-month2/safe-work-month-calendar

South Australia   https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/show_page.jsp?id=116354

Western Australia : https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/news/safe-work-month/

Tasmania: http://www.worksafe.tas.gov.au/safety/events/worksafe_month_2017

I was fortunate to attended the lecture by Prof Erik Hollnagel in Sydney on Monday evening (9/10/2017) in Sydney . Prof Hollnagel comes out to Australia from Denmark on a regular basis and is one of Europe’s leading experts on industrial safety.

Always an interesting speaker, this week was no exception as he spoke about a different approach to the management of safety which he refers to as Safety11 “Resilience Assessment Grid (RAG)“

It was thought-provoking to hear a speaker talk about the positive events in a workplace and not on the negativity.

FYI https://vimeo.com/89492241 =

The videos are an excellent resource to explain important processes in the workers’ compensation and injury management scheme.

https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/news/new-educational-videos/

I would like to introduce you to Cathy-Anne Jones, who has joined the Recruitment Australia team and is managing the Australian recruitment side of the business.

While it is only early days, i.e. 3 months, Cathy-Anne has been working with our clients and colleagues and filling all types of roles. I do hope you reach out to her for any recruitment requirements.

You can email her at cathyanne@recruitmentaustralia.net.au

“The only thing that is constant is change,” said Heraclitus, and he was so right. While things do change, it’s how you continue to rise to meet and take advantage of those changes, and I’m looking forward to doing so for some time to come.

Roxayne

http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/media/publications/law-and-policy/remake-of-the-work-health-and-safety-regulation-2011-table-of-amendments

This fellow’s a little bit of all strata’s….a member of none. To the employee or worker he’s a tool of management; to management, he’s just another employee.

He finds his job interesting. He speaks for management from the “Ivory Tower” and then runs out to the Production Area, Warehouse or Work Site to hear how it sounds. He must keep his head in the “brass’ board room”, his feet in the muck…. a difficult position to keep from falling on his butt.
He has the curiosity of a cat….the tenacity of a mother in law…the determination of a taxi driver…the nervous system of a race car driver…the digestive capacity of a goat…the simplicity of a jackass…the diplomacy of a wayward husband…the hide of a rhinoceros…the speed of a rocket and the good humour of an idiot.

He has the busiest, shrewdest, plottingest, worryingest, most thoroughly washed brain of any human. His mail basket is always full, his desk is a constant mess and his calendar looks like cave drawings. Nobody has been given the run-around as often, has been passed so many bucks, is left holding so many bags, and has cut his way through so much red tape.
The SAFETY PROFESSIONAL keeps the coffee plantations, aspirin plants, liquor distilleries and the midnight oil companies in business. He must tread lightly over mountains of eggs, knowing where to tread and, more importantly, when and where NOT to tread. You’ll find him everywhere…shouting loudly over the din of a bunch of roaring engines, whispering softly in the hallowed precincts of thick-carpeted offices.

Whenever there is an accident, the SAFETY PROFESSIONAL is often called in to explain why and how it happened. He’s expected pull rabbits out of nonexistent hats; when the job is thankless, he gets it. He must engender interests in good housekeeping to people who live in garage sale clutter …promote wider responsibility to people who have a narrow focus … preach safety to people who think they don’t need it. He must listen to the phrase, ‘that’s always the way we’ve done it,” until he vomits.
Despite all the careful planning he is usually found dangling on a deadline…he’s the original cat on the hot tin roof…in the middle of a muddle and of course LATE. The master of understatement, he must make fire protection sound as essential as religion and an accident cost sound like the national debt.

He’s suppose to be a “specialist” who can breath new life into committees and meetings… leadership into management… cooperation into supervisory personnel… responsibility into employees/workers. He must inspire without propaganda… propagandize without being obvious. He parks his 1980’s jalopy between the boss’ new Mercedes and the janitor’s SUV. When he’s clever, it goes unnoticed…when he stubs his toe, the world is there to see and mock it.

To him a headache is normal; he’d have ulcers if he could afford them. He has more critics than Donald Trump. He meets more people who think they know more about safety than the company has conveyor hooks.
He can never be right. When he simplifies, he’s pandering. When he gets a little technical, he’s over their head. Half the people wonder what he does… the other half know what he does but think he’s doing it wrong! When an idea turns out lousy and after the blame has been thoroughly kicked between the employee/worker, foreman and supervisor, it winds up in his lap.

More people bend his ear than anybody else’s. Everybody thinks he always has time to stop and listen to a joke…hear a gripe…attend a meeting… serve on a committee. He does, and winds up taking most of his work home.

He has no peer in the realm of praise, propaganda and procrastination. He knows he’s right; only the world thinks he’s wrong. If he has an idea, it was stolen. However, a stolen idea is research! Where else do you think the background material for this sad tale of woe about a Safety Professional originated? ]]> http://www.safetyservices.net.au/humour-the-life-of-a-safety-professional/feed/ 0 http://www.safetyservices.net.au/chain-of-responsibilities-forums-fyi/ http://www.safetyservices.net.au/chain-of-responsibilities-forums-fyi/#comments Mon, 05 Jun 2017 04:35:20 +0000 http://www.safetyservices.net.au/?p=3204 read more →]]> The NHVR is delivering a number of information sessions across the country to discuss amendments to Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws that are coming in mid 2018.

The latest sessions added are:

QUEENSLAND

10 June – Chinchilla Palms Motel, Chinchilla, QLD

12 June – Rockhampton Leagues Club, Rockhampton, QLD

NEW SOUTH WALES

7 June – St George Leagues Club, Kogarah, Sydney

8 June –  Forbes Inn, Forbes, NSW

9 June – Moree Services Club, Moree

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

16 June – BIC – Long Distance Bus Operators Conference, Adelaide

17 June – Livestock SA, Adelaide

17 June – Bus SA Conference, Adelaide
For dates and locations of all NHVR CoR information sessions visit www.nhvr.gov.au/cor ]]> http://www.safetyservices.net.au/chain-of-responsibilities-forums-fyi/feed/ 0 http://www.safetyservices.net.au/updated-guidelines-for-workplace-return-to-work-programs/ http://www.safetyservices.net.au/updated-guidelines-for-workplace-return-to-work-programs/#comments Thu, 01 Jun 2017 22:07:48 +0000 http://www.safetyservices.net.au/?p=3202 read more →]]>  

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has released the updated Guidelines for workplace return to work programs. This took effect on 31 May 2017.

Employers should update their return to work program to ensure it complies with these guidelines at the next scheduled review. All return to work programs must comply with these guidelines two years from the date of effect, but in the interim must meet the requirements of the 2010 guidelines.

More information can be found on  http://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/resources-library/workers-compensation-resources/publications/help-with-getting-people-back-to-work/guidelines-for-workplace-return-to-work-programs-may-2017#employment

If you need any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact Roxayne on 02 9634 5912

About time I hear you say!!

The Queensland Government has introduced proposed laws to parliament that give the construction watchdog stronger powers to refuse or cancel licences to builders with a poor safety record.

This come about when it was revealed that the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) granted new licences to a builder, despite him facing two manslaughter charges laid last November.

The changes are part of a suite of strong new laws which would make it mandatory for the principal contractor on a building site to notify the QBCC if a safety breach has been issued by WorkSafe Queensland to any tradesman!

These changes come after years of lobbying by Michael Garrels whose 20-year-old son Jason was killed on a building site in 2012.