Workplace-Based Return-to-Work Interventions: Optimizing the Role of Stakeholders in Implementation and Research

Abstract

Recommendations for future research include developing methods for engaging stakeholders, determining the optimal level and timing of stakeholder involvement, expanding RTW research to more diverse work settings, and developing RTW interventions reflecting all stakeholders' interests.

The Work Ability Divide: Holistic and Reductionistic Approaches in Swedish Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Teams

“…A multi-stakeholder or a system approach to return-to-work is supported by an increasing number of studies [1][2][3]. Cooperation, though identified as a cornerstone of successful return-to-work, is challenging due to incompabilities between stakeholders regarding policies and definitions of concepts [1].…”

The Management of Long-Term Sickness Absence in Large Public Sector Healthcare Organisations: A Realist Evaluation Using Mixed Methods

“…It was evident that they needed practical and personal support from their seniors to effectively discharge this challenging responsibility [12,53]. Two closely related aspects of the context were the impact of differing -41 -perceptions and beliefs and of the quality of human relationships amongst stakeholders.…”

“…Recent reviews have noted the low methodological quality of much of the research [1,11,12]; and uncertainty is compounded by the impact of the cultural, political and organisational contexts in which SA occurs.…”

“…There is also an increasing recognition of the diverse factors contributing to the likelihood of an individual having LTSA, including their physical and psychological condition, the availability of primary healthcare, perceived and actual job demands, family or -5 -caring responsibilities, economic factors such as occupational sick pay or disability benefits, and cultural elements, such as perceived tolerance of SA within the organisation [12,14,15].…”

Narratives of Sick Leave, Return to Work and Job Mobility for People with Common Mental Disorders in Sweden

“…There are several stakeholders involved in RTW processes (most commonly workers, employers, insurance representatives and healthcare professionals), all representing different perspectives [8]. In relation to CMDs, it has been suggested that supervisors and physicians focus on at-work functioning and sustainability, while workers tend to include more aspects such as work-home-balance, mental functioning and job satisfaction [9].…”