Macro-organizational factors, the incidence of work disability, and work ability among the total workforce of home care workers in Sweden

Abstract

The differences in the municipal proportion of work ability incidence indicate a preventive potential, especially related to employment and return to work after sick leave.

“Making it work in the frontline” explains female home care workers’ defining, recognizing, communicating and reporting of occupational disorders

“…Explanations to these differences were, in the first step, investigated through epidemiological register-based studies. However, macro-socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors explained only 12Á19% of the variation of occupational disorders (Dellve et al, 2003b) and 33Á34% of long-term sick leave or disability pension (Dellve et al, 2006). Age structures of HCWs and the unemployment level were related to the incidence rate, in this study and in other studies (Brooker, Frank & Tarasuk, 1997;Shannon, Mayr & Haines, 1997).…”

“…Earlier studies showed great variations in organizational incidence of occupational disorders, as well as for long-term sick leave and disability pension among HCW in Sweden (Dellve, Allebeck et al, 2003;Dellve, Karlberg, Allebeck, Herloff & Hagberg, 2006). Nevertheless, factors that usually confound comparisons, like rights and obligations related to employment and workers' compensation, are nationally regulated.…”

“…Municipalities were selected that covered variations of the five-year mean municipal incidence of occupational injuries and diseases, long-term sick leave and disability pension (Dellve et al, 2003b;Dellve et al, 2006) and a variation due to municipality type (Table I). The top-managers of the social service were contacted for information and permission, and no one refused to participate.…”

The work ability index and single-item question: associations with sick leave, symptoms, and health – a prospective study of women on long-term sick leave

“…There is a high prevalence of employees on long-term sick leave in Sweden (2), with the highest prevalence seen among women working in human service organizations (HSO) (3)(4)(5)(6). HSO employees encompass, for example, workers in schools, preschools, home care service, and nursing or disabled-care homes who are in direct contact with clients or responsible for cleaning, cooking, or administration.…”

The prevalence and contribution of work related issues in Short Term Disability claims.

“…The importance of macro organizational factors on Long Term Disability (LTD) (sick leave program for absences typically over 26 weeks) incidence was demonstrated with municipal employees in Sweden, finding that workplace factors were related to work disability (Dellve et al, 2006).…”