Stop guessing.
Start supporting.
When an employee is off with a mental health condition, it's hard to know what to do or say. ReturnWell gives you the clinical insight to make confident, defensible return-to-work decisions — fast.
The challenge
Mental health absence is the hardest type to manage
Unlike a physical injury, there's no X-ray. No clear timeline. And often, no guidance on what to do next.
Prolonged absence is expensive
Mental health absence costs UK employers an average of £1,300 per employee per year. The longer it continues without structured support, the harder return becomes.
Getting it wrong has legal consequences
Returning an employee too soon — or handling the process poorly — creates exposure under the Equality Act and employment law. You need a documented, defensible process.
You don't know what you're dealing with
Mental health conditions are complex. Without clinical input, HR teams are left guessing — and managers often say or do the wrong thing, however well-intentioned.
You don't know when or how to act
When is the right time to intervene? What adjustments are appropriate? What does a fit note actually mean? These questions don't have obvious answers without expert guidance.
Why ReturnWell
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
HCPC-verified OTs only
Every provider on the platform is verified against the HCPC register before their first case. You never need to check credentials yourself.
Structured, actionable reports
Reports follow a consistent format with specific return-to-work recommendations — not vague advice. Give line managers something concrete to work with.
Fast turnaround
Most cases complete within 10–15 working days. Urgent cases in 5–7. No long waiting lists or NHS referral delays.
Full audit trail
Every case action, status change, and communication is logged. If you ever face a tribunal, your process is documented and defensible.
Managed end to end
ReturnWell handles the OT matching, case management, and delivery. Your HR team submits the case and receives the report — nothing else required.
Visibility across your workforce
Track all active cases in one portal. See what stage each case is at, flag urgent situations, and maintain an overview of absence trends.
The business case
A structured assessment pays for itself
The cost of a ReturnWell assessment is a fraction of a single week of absence — and a structured, well-managed return significantly reduces the risk of relapse and re-absence.
Beyond the numbers: getting this right protects your people, your managers, and your organisation.
Average annual cost of mental health absence per employee
CIPD Health & Wellbeing at Work Report
Average length of a mental health-related absence spell in the UK
ONS Labour Force Survey
Working days from referral to report with ReturnWell
ReturnWell platform data
What employers say
Trusted by HR teams across the UK
“We'd had an employee off for eight weeks and didn't know how to handle the conversation about returning. ReturnWell gave us a clear, professional report with specific recommendations — it completely changed how we managed the situation.”
Sarah M.
HR Manager
Manufacturing firm, 200 employees
“The process was much simpler than I expected. We submitted the case on Monday and had a confirmed assessment date by Wednesday. The report was clear, practical, and gave us exactly what we needed to have a constructive return-to-work conversation.”
James T.
Operations Director
Logistics company, 85 employees
“As an HR team of one, I don't have time to research OTs, check credentials, and manage the whole process. ReturnWell handles everything. I submit, I receive the report, and I can focus on supporting the employee.”
Claire W.
HR Business Partner
Professional services firm
Ready to take the guesswork out of absence management?
Submit your first case in minutes. No subscription, no commitment — pay per assessment.
Questions? Talk to the team or read how it works.