The Current Practice of Gradual Return to Work in Germany: A Qualitative Study Protocol

Abstract

(1) Background: The increase in working age and long-term illnesses is a challenge for society to maintain the health of employees and to support their work participation. In many countries, such as Germany, a gradual return to work (GRTW) is used frequently to support returning employees, but little is known about its facilitators and obstacles. This protocol aims to provide an overview of the national state of the art in workplace adjustments during return to work and to outline the design of a qualitative study examining current GRTW practices in Germany. (2) Methods: Our qualitative study will examine the current implementation of GRTW by means of 32 narrative interviews and 10 group discussions from different perspectives. Therefore, we will ask returning employees as well as organisational stakeholders and external experts about their experiences with GRTW and attitudes towards the measure. The verbal data obtained will be analysed using the documentary method of interpretation. (3) Discussion: This study will reveal facilitating and hindering factors for the implementation of GRTW in Germany. The findings of the study may contribute to an improved implementation of GRTW not only in Germany.

Returning-to-work after mental health-associated sick leave: a qualitative interview study exploring the experiences of general practitioners in Germany

“…So far there is little information about the collaboration of GPs and other health care professionals in Germany, but data from France and Norway indicate that there is a lack of accessibility, professional exchange and collaboration between GPs and other health care professionals [ 19 , 20 ]. The RTW process in Germany after long-term absence from work is commonly conducted through a gradual return between six weeks and six months, mostly initiated and accompanied by GPs [ 21 ] but in German research, little attention was paid to the strategies the GPs use to determine right time for the RTW of their patients. Data from other European countries, as well as Australia and Canada, show that the GPs experience the subject of RTW as a complex problem requiring their medical and non-medical skills and expressed their difficulties in assessing the work capacity of their patients as well as the lack of objective measures [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Evaluating a multimodal, clinical and work-directed intervention (RTW-PIA) to support sustainable return to work among employees with mental disorders: study protocol of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial

“…Within the legal context of Germany, which is based on a social insurance system that focuses on protecting income [38], RTW-related efforts (e.g. gradual RTW [39]) have been ad hoc and not structurally supported across the various interfaces [40]. In a conservative welfare state regime like Germany [41], the national health care system is instituted on dichotomous principles which rest on different statutory, management and funding structures: medical vs. social services; hospital vs. ambulatory care; rehabilitation vs. acute treatment [42].…”