By knowing the factors associated with working while on a disability pension, policies could be more efficiently allocated to encourage disability pensioners to take up work. One way would be to support disability pensioners with low education to work more. Another way to increase work among disability pensioners is to support the recently retired in working longer.

Time spent on disability pension due to somatic conditions has decreased in all educational groups. Educational differences in time spent on disability pension are increasingly attributable to mental disorders.

Background We examined whether the risk for disability retirement varies between companies over and above the individual-level characteristics of their employees and which company-level characteristics are associated with the risk for any, full or partial disability retirement. Methods A 30% random sample of Finnish private sector companies with at least 10 employees was used (5567 companies and 301 313 employees). The risk for disability retirement over 6 years was analyzed using multilevel logistic regression. Company size and industry, as well as gender, age, education and social class measured both at the individual- and the company-level were used as explanatory variables. Results 3.8% of the variance in the risk for disability retirement was attributed to the company level after controlling for individual-level characteristics of the employees. Company-level variance was much larger in partial (11.7%) than in full (4.2%) disability retirement. After controlling for all individual- and company-level characteristics, those working in health and social work activities had increased risk for both full and partial disability retirement. The risk for full disability retirement increased by decreasing educational level of the company. The risk for partial disability retirement increased by increasing company size and was elevated in companies with the highest proportion of women. Conclusions After controlling for the individual-level characteristics, variation in the risk for disability retirement between companies was modest. The more substantial variation in partial disability pension suggests that companies have a marked role in advancing working with partial disabilities.

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Backround Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is considered an important means to combat work ability problems and enable people to continue working despite health problems. We examined the magnitude of company level variation in VR and determined which individual- and company level characteristics are associated with access to VR due to mental disorders, musculoskeletal diseases, and other somatic diseases. Methods A 30% random sample of all Finnish private sector companies with more than 10 employees aged 25-62 years at the end of 2010 (5.567 companies with 300.601 employees) was followed up for incident VR for six years. Company size and industry, as well as gender, age, education, social class and sickness absence measured both at the individual- and company level, were used as explanatory variables in multilevel logit models. Results After controlling for the individual level covariates, companies accounted for 12% of the variance in VR. The proportion was largest in VR due to musculoskeletal diseases. VR was more common among women, older employees (except the very oldest age group), those with low education (particularly due to musculoskeletal diseases), low social class, and previous sickness absence. VR was more common in larger companies, and in construction and in health and social work, and less common in professional activities. VR was more common in companies with low proportion of highly educated employees and with higher sickness absence rates. Conclusions Company level variation in VR was substantial after controlling for individual level characteristics of the employees. The employer may have an important role in the prevention of work disability through vocational rehabilitation. Key messages Company level variation in vocational rehabilitation was substantial after controlling for individual level characteristics of the employees. The employer may have an important in the prevention of work disability through vocational rehabilitation.