Workplace Disability Management Programs Promoting Return-to-Work

 

Author(s): Ulrik Gensby, Thomas Lund, Krystyna Kowalski, Madina Saidj, Trine Filges, Anne-Marie Klint Jørgensen, Ben Amick, Merete Labriola

Published by: The Campbell Collaboration

Supported by: SFI Campbell

Date:

Status: Research in progress
 
 
    
Background
Return-to-work (RTW) following work related injuries or illnesses is receiving continued attention from a wide spectrum of research fields and is an important topic for many policy- and decision-makers. In particular long-term sickness absence is a challenge associated with a series of negative economic and social consequences. The share of the working-age population relying on disability and sickness benefits as their main source of income has tended to increase in many OECD countries. Long-term sickness absence also represents substantial life events, where the duration of absence due to injury or illness increases the future risk of receiving disability pension and permanent exclusion from the labour market. In recent years the multidimensional characteristics of work disability prevention has been emphasised as a key perspective to understand the complexity in helping workers with disabling injuries or illnesses return to work.

Objective
In spite of the increasing focus on RTW and work disability, there is still little evidence on the effects of workplace disability management programs. Further knowledge on workplace-based interventions that can support successful disability management practices on RTW is still needed. This review will evaluate the effect of workplace disability management programs promoting RTW - i.e. report on the evidence and describes and combine results from individual studies on workplace disability management programs and explain possible variations in practice.

Authors
  • Ulrik Gensby, PhD. Candidate, MSc, SFI Campbell, Danish National Centre for Social Research (SFI), ulg@sfi.dk
  • Thomas Lund, Senior Researcher, PhD., Employment and Integration, Danish National Centre for Social Research (SFI)
  • Krystyna Kowalski, Review Consultant, MSc., SFI Campbell
  • Madina Saidj, SFI Campbell
  • Trine Filges, Senior Researcher, PhD., Employment and Integration, Danish National Centre for Social Research (SFI)
  • Anne-Marie Klint Jørgensen, Research Librarian, SFI Campbell
  • Ben C. Amick, Scientific Director and Associate Professor, PhD., Institute for wokr and Health (IWH) and University of Texas Health Science Centre
  • Merete Labriola, Senior Researcher, PhD., Social Policy and Welfare Services, Danish National Centre for Social Research (SFI)