Updated September 2026: in 2020 I returned from leave to work from home under lockdown. My manager opened by asking about the Covid situation where I was, then assigned a short-deadline opportunity with the same teams I had struggled with. I have rewritten it into advice for resuming work after leave while working remotely.
I hoped for a quiet first day back. The morning was calm. Then my manager messaged, asking about the coronavirus situation in my hometown and telling me to stay safe. A few minutes later he came to the point: a new opportunity with the same onsite and offshore teams as before, with a short deadline.
How do you restart well after leave when remote?
- Check in with your manager on the first morning, by call if possible.
- Read team updates before diving into your inbox.
- Confirm your equipment and access work: VPN, tools and any password that expired while you were away.
- Tell key contacts you are back, so requests come to you directly.
How do you respond to a short-deadline assignment on day one?
Ask what the deliverable and deadline are, and whether anything reusable exists from the last opportunity with the same teams. Agree scope in writing before starting. A tight deadline is exactly when an unclear scope costs the most.
How do you work again with teams you struggled with?
Use what you learned last time. If the problem was repeated changes, set up a change log from the start. If it was unclear ownership, agree who approves what at kickoff. Remote work makes written agreements even more important, because there are fewer informal conversations to fix misunderstandings.
How do you avoid being overloaded on the first day?
Ask what else is expected of you before accepting the new assignment, and whether any older work has resurfaced during your leave. Agree priorities with your manager in one conversation, rather than picking up requests one at a time as they arrive.
How do you stay visible when working from home?
Send short status updates at predictable times, keep your camera on in key calls where possible, and respond within agreed hours. Remote workers are easy to forget, and visibility is what keeps you in consideration for good work, not just urgent work.
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