Background The cost of sickness absence has major social, psychological and financial implications for individuals and organisations. Return-to-work (RTW) interventions that support good quality communication and contact with the workplace can reduce the length of sickness absence by between 15 and 30 days. However, initiatives promoting a sustainable return to work for workers with poor mental health on long-term sickness absence across small, medium and large enterprises (SMEs and LEs) are limited. This paper describes the protocol of a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the feasibility of implementing a RTW intervention across SMEs and LEs across all sectors. Methods and design A two-arm feasibility RCT with a 4-month intervention will be conducted in SMEs and LE enterprises from the Midlands region, UK. At least 8 organisations (4 controls and interventions), and at least 60 workers and/or managers, will be recruited and randomised into the intervention and control group (30 interventions, 30 controls). Workers on long-term sickness absence (LTSA) (between 8 and 50 days) and managers with a worker on LTSA will be eligible to participate. The intervention is a behavioural change programme, including a managers and workers RTW toolkit, focused on supporting sickness absence and RTW through the provision of knowledge, problem-solving, action planning, goal setting and positive communication that leads to a sustainable RTW. Organisations assigned to the control group will continue with their usual practice. Measurements of mental health, RTW, work outcomes, quality-of-life, workplace support and communication and other demographic data will be taken at baseline, 2 months and 4 months. Feasibility will be assessed based on recruitment, retention, attrition, completion of measures and intervention compliance for which specific process and research outcomes have been established. A process evaluation will explore the experiences and acceptability of the intervention components and evaluation measures. Exploratory economic evaluation will be conducted to further inform a definitive trial. Discussion This is a novel intervention using a worker-manager approach to promote a sustainable return to work of workers on long-term sick leave due to poor mental wellbeing. If this intervention is shown to be feasible, the outcomes will inform a larger scale randomised control trial. Trial registration ISRCTN90032009 (retrospectively registered, date registered 15th December 2020)

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [1]. In the article it is mentioned that “the study obtained the approval of the university’s Students Vice-Chancellery and the government bodies of the involved academic centers and also by the Ethics Committee of the University of Vigo.” However, it should read: “The study obtained the approval of the university’s Students Vice-Chancellery and the government bodies of the involved academic centers” only

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Our study demonstrated attenuated cardiovascular reactivity is predictive of future fatigue in truck drivers, who are a safety critical workforce. Attenuated responses to stress may have negative consequences for health and for driving safety, and cardiovascular stress reactivity could identify drivers who may be at heightened risk for developing fatigue.

Delivery drivers were classified as a key worker group during the 1st UK COVID-19 lockdown. Whilst those delivering essential goods had their permitted driving hours extended, others employed by the hospitality sector were placed on the Government's job retention scheme (furlough). This study investigated the differences in this situation (furlough vs non-furlough) on lifestyle health-related behaviours and mental health symptoms in a sample of UK-based truck drivers using an online survey complete by 89 participants (40% response rate from those invited, mean age: 51 years, BMI: 29.8 kg/m 2 , 100% male). 43 (48%) reported being furloughed. Furloughed drivers reported a longer sleep duration (mean±SD: 7.5±1.3 vs 6.3±0.8 hours/night, p<.001), an increased frequency of spending time in nature (2.5±1.1 vs 1.6±1.4 times/week, p<.05) and were more likely to engage in a new form of physical activity compared to non-furloughed drivers (18% vs 7%, p<.005). No differences in anxiety and depression symptoms, or alcohol intake, were observed between groups (p>.05). A higher proportion of positive lifestyle behavioural choices were made in furloughed drivers during the lockdown, which if sustained, could lead to health improvements in this traditionally at-risk occupational group.