ThriveBack is delivered by Career Returners and Affinity Health at Work
Employee sickness absence is at a 15-year high, costing UK employers £85bn annually in lost productivity and turnover and creating challenges for organisations to reintegrate employees effectively. A poor return-to-work experience can lead to relapse, disengagement, and attrition. The Keep Britain Working Review (2025) highlighted the need for UK employers to ‘do more’ for employees managing health, including creating return-to-work plans with high-quality support.
The ThriveBack programme combines Career Returners’ expertise in return-to-work coaching and community with Affinity Health at Work’s evidence-based absence management solutions, delivering a comprehensive and personalised return-to-work programme that supports returning professionals to thrive back at work and organisations to retain experienced talent.
ThriveBack Programme Objectives
The programme sits alongside and complements existing occupational health, EAP and HR absence management processes, with a focus on thriving back in a career:
Enabling professional-level employees to confidently and sustainably return to work after extended sickness absence.
Equipping managers with practical tools and confidence to support this reintegration.
Leading to =>
Improved returner confidence, resilience and engagement.
Improved manager confidence in supporting a returner.
Sustainable returns to work, increasing retention rates.
Reduced sickness absence and turnover costs.
Core Components of ThriveBack
Returner Coaching and Community
A personalised programme of tailored 1:1 sessions, from preparing to return to fully reintegrated. Includes rebuilding confidence, tackling fears and doubts, building resilience, creating sustainable working patterns and realigning career objectives and ambitions. Peer support is provided via a dedicated Career Returners Professional Community Group in the online Community Hub.
Line Manager Return-to-Work Coaching
Tailored 1:1 coaching sessions pre- and post-return. Tools, advice and support on setting a returning employee up for success: balancing emotional and practical support, building trust and confidence, and having productive career conversations.
Return-to-Work Digital Hub
Evidence-based digital toolkits for returner and line managers, guiding the return journey from initial absence to several months post-return. Includes videos, checklists, wellbeing exercises, resources and action plans.
Optional Enhancements
Extended Returner Coaching: Additional sessions where needed.
Complex Case Support: Bespoke support for challenging returns, including mediation and health psychology services.
Optional Next Level Support
Strategic Absence Management Review: In-depth review of policies, processes, data and provisions. Interviews and focus groups to capture lived experience. Evidence-based recommendations and action planning workshops.
