Managing Work Disability: Why First Return to Work is Not a Measure of Success

ILR Review ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Butler ◽  
William G. Johnson ◽  
Marjorie L. Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Work Disability ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Rich Data ◽  
Rate Of Success

Studies of the effectiveness of medical and vocational rehabilitation and the disincentive effects of workers' compensation benefits frequently assume that a return to work signals the end of the limiting effects of injuries. This study is the first to test that assumption empirically. The authors use a rich data set on Ontario workers with permanent partial impairments resulting from injuries that occurred between 1974 and 1987 to show that the effects of injuries on employment are more enduring than previous studies indicate. The rate of successful returns to employment, measured by first return to work, is 85%, but the rate of success evaluated over a longer time period is only 50%.

scholarly journals Data linkage to build detailed return-to-work trajectories for work disability research

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Maas ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Mieke Koehoorn ◽  
Chris McLeod
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Work Disability ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Prescription Data ◽  
Cost Benefits ◽  
The Cost

IntroductionMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most prevalent chronic condition in Canada, and account for the highest disability costs. Gradual-return-to-work (GRTW) can improve health and labour market outcomes in an aging workforce at risk of MSDs. Linked longitudinal data enables us to generate evidence of GRTW to inform policy needs. Objectives and ApproachThe objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and cost-benefits of GRTW for workers with a work-acquired MSD in British Columbia, Canada. We linked workers’ compensation data, health services data, and prescription data from three governing bodies to 1) identify injured workers with an accepted MSD lost-time injury between 2010 and 2015; 2) identify trajectories of RTW states (injury, sickness absence, GRTW, RTW, and non-RTW) and the probability of transitioning between states; and 3) assess the association between workers characteristics and RTW trajectories, and analyze the cost-benefits of GRTW. ResultsFinal results are expected early 2019. To our knowledge, this will be the first study linking workers’ compensation data (in particular detailed RTW data), health services data and prescription data from three different governing bodies for a comprehensive, population-based investigation of work disability experiences over a longitudinal time period and within the Canadian context. Also, using this data for the purpose of assessing the cost-benefits is new, and will help to prioritize prevention resources and strategies to limit the health and economic impact of work-related MSDs on employers, workers’ compensation boards and society. Conclusion/ImplicationsEvaluating the effects of GRTW on work disability is essential to maximize the health and economic benefits for injured workers. The innovation of this project is that is links three population-based databases to capture multiple indicators of health and work status to build RTW trajectories over time.

Injured workers and their return to work

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Galizzi ◽  
Roberto Leombruni ◽  
Lia Pacelli ◽  
Antonella Bena
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Reduced Form ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
High Wage ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ex Post

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the factors affecting the return to work (RTW) of injured workers in an institutional setting where workers’ earnings are fully compensated during the disability period. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use a unique data set matching employer-employee panel data with Italian workers’ compensation records. The authors estimate survival models accounting for workers’ unobserved heterogeneity. Findings – Workers with higher wage growth, higher relative wages and from firms with better histories of stable employment, RTW sooner. More vulnerable workers – immigrants, females, members of smaller firms – also tend to return sooner. But even when we control for such measures of commitment, status, and job security, high-wage workers RTW sooner. Research limitations/implications – The authors use proxies as measures of commitment and status. The authors study blue-collar workers without finer job qualifications. The authors estimate a reduced form model. Practical implications – In an institutional environment where the immediate cost of workers’ compensation benefits falls largely on firms, employers seem to pressure those workers whose time off is more costly, i.e., high-wage workers. The lack of evidence of ex post moral hazard behavior also demands for a better understanding of the relationship between benefits and RTW. Social implications – Workers who are induced to RTW before full recovery jeopardize their long- term health and employability. Firms that put such pressure on employees might generate social costs that can be particularity high in the case of high productivity workers. Originality/value – The paper offers the first quantitative analysis of an institutional setting where injured workers face 100 percent benefits replacement rate and have job security. This allows focus on other workers’ or employers’ reasons to speed RTW. It is one of very few economics studies on this topic in the European context, providing implications for human resource managers, state regulators, and unions.

Predictors of Vocational Rehabilitation Return-to-Work Outcomes in Workers' Compensation

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry L. Blackwell ◽  
Stephen J. Leierer ◽  
Stephanie Haupt ◽  
Angeliki Kampitsis
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Workers Compensation

The Reformed Californian Workers' Compensation System: Outcomes for Injured Workers

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Sandra Bentley
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
New South ◽  
Compensation System ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Legislative Reform ◽  
South Wales

In a period of legislative reform, New South Wales' workers compensation stakeholders can learn at least broad lessons by making comparisons with the experience of other countries in post reform review. This article considers the overall impact of the 1993 reforms on the Californian workers' compensation system, with focus on reforms and outcomes in the Vocational Rehabilitation sector. It was found post reform that the number of claims and paid benefits have decreased substantially, and total premiums paid and Vocational Rehabilitation expenditures are down dramatically. However, the changes are blamed for an increase in legal complexity, as return-to work outcomes and post-injury earnings for injured workers appear to have worsened. Additionally benefit levels remain a continuing concern.

scholarly journals O2C.2 Does region of residence matter for return-to-work after work-related injury? A comparative analysis of six canadian workers’ compensation jurisdictions

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A16.1-A16
Author(s):  
Robert Macpherson ◽  
Hui Shen ◽  
Mieke Koehoorn ◽  
Benjamin Amick ◽  
Alex Collie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Work Disability ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Disability Benefits ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Work Related Injury ◽  
Urban Rural

ObjectivesTo investigate regional differences in return-to-work following work-related injury and whether these differences persist after adjusting for individual characteristics.MethodsWorkers’ compensation claims from six Canadian provinces were used to create comparable cohorts of workers aged 15–80 with a work-related injury resulting in at least one disability day from 2011 to 2015. Workers’ residential postal codes were mapped to Census standard geographic units to categorize workers into six regions representing decreasing urban density and metropolitan influence (ranging from large urban areas of 100,000+people to rural areas of <10 000 people with no metropolitan influence). Cox regression models were used to estimate the effect of urban-rural residence on the likelihood of injured workers transitioning off work disability benefits within one-year post-injury, adjusting for confounders, including provincial compensation jurisdiction. Models were stratified by industry sectors.ResultsThe cohort included 7 46 029 work disability claims, of which the majority resided in large urban areas (69%). Unadjusted models showed that workers residing in smaller urban and rural areas had a lower likelihood of transitioning off work disability benefits compared to those in large urban areas. Urban-rural differences persisted in adjusted models (e.g. HR=0.91 95% CI 0.89, 0.94 for workers in rural areas with no metropolitan influence). Industry-stratified models showed that greater differences existed between urban and rural places of residence for workers in the transportation and construction sectors, and smaller differences for workers in the health care and manufacturing sectors.ConclusionsThe main finding suggests that injured workers in more rural areas face barriers in returning to work and that workers’ compensation resources may need to be allocated to address these regional disparities. Future research will incorporate both individual and regional-level variables in a multilevel model framework to identify the characteristics that are the most important in explaining variability in work disability duration.

Consumer perspectives of vocational rehabilitation and return to work following acquired brain injury

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Kerrin Watter ◽  
Areti Kennedy ◽  
Vanette McLennan ◽  
Jessica Vogler ◽  
Sarah Jeffery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
System Level ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Services ◽  
Workplace Supports ◽  
Vocational Goals

Abstract Introduction: Following acquired brain injury, the goal of return to work is common. While return to work is supported through different rehabilitation models and services, access to vocational rehabilitation varies within and between countries, and global rates of employment post-injury remain low. The literature identifies outcomes from vocational programs and experiences with return to work, yet little is known about individuals’ perceptions and experiences regarding rehabilitation to support their vocational goals and experiences in attempting to return to work. Method: This qualitative study investigated the experiences of community-living adults with acquired brain injury (n = 8; mean age 45 years; mean time post-injury of 5.5 years) regarding their vocational rehabilitation and return to work. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted, with data analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Participants identified negative and positive experiences with vocational rehabilitation and return to work. Five overarching themes were identified: addressing vocational rehabilitation in rehabilitation; facilitators of recovery and return to work; the importance and experience of working again; acquired brain injury and identity; and services, systems and policies. Participants also identified five key areas for early vocational rehabilitation services: education; service provision; employer liaison; workplace supports; and peer mentors. Study findings inform current and future practice and service delivery, at a clinical, service and system level.

Origins and Destinations – Social Security Claimant Dynamics

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL NOBLE ◽  
SIN YI CHEUNG ◽  
GEORGE SMITH
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Income Support ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Lone Parents ◽  
Lone Mothers ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Short Time

This article briefly reviews American and British literature on welfare dynamics and examines the concepts of welfare dependency and ‘dependency culture’ with particular reference to lone parents. Using UK benefit data sets, the welfare dynamics of lone mothers are examined to explore the extent to which they inform the debates. Evidence from Housing Benefits data show that even over a relatively short time period, there is significant turnover in the benefits-dependent lone parent population with movement in and out of income support as well as movement into other family structures. Younger lone parents and owner-occupiers tend to leave the data set while older lone parents and council tenants are most likely to stay. Some owner-occupier lone parents may be relatively well off and on income support for a relatively short time between separation and a financial settlement being reached. They may also represent a more highly educated and highly skilled group with easier access to the labour market than renters. Any policy moves paralleling those in the United States to time limit benefit will disproportionately affect older lone parents.

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