return to work
return to work — idiom
1. to begin doing your job again after a period of not working, such as after an il
to begin doing your job again after a period of not working, such as after an illness, an injury, parental leave, or a period without a job
After six months of maternity leave, Iris returned to work at the hospital.
after [period of absence] + return to work at [place]
Ravindra returned to work as a delivery driver after his ankle healed from the injury.
return to work as [job role] after [health event]
Maja returned to work at the factory once the strike ended.
After a year without a job, Gabriel was thrilled to return to work at a local auto shop.
return to work at [place] after [period of unemployment]
- return to work after
- return to work from
- ready to return to work
- plan to return to work
- return to work following
- go back to work
more conversational and widely used in everyday speech
- resume work
more formal, often used in official or HR contexts
- get back to work
informal, can mean either returning after absence or resuming an interrupted task
- go on leave
the opposite action — starting a period of absence from work
- retire
permanent exit from the workforce, not a temporary absence
Grammar Patterns
return to work + after/before [time expression]
Usage Note
Commonly used after a period of absence due to parental leave, illness, injury, or unemployment. The phrase often pairs with a time expression (e.g., 'after', 'next week', 'following') that marks when the return happens. 'Return to work' treats 'work' as a general concept (workplace or job), not a specific task.