Disability Management Strategies: A Preliminary Investigation of Perceptions, Policies and Return-to-Work Outcomes

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry G. Harder ◽  
Gabrielle McHugh ◽  
Shannon L. Wagner ◽  
Kari A. Harder
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Disability Management ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Injured Worker ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe objectives of this retrospective study were to (1) examine the predictive value of employer's disability management (DM) perceptions and DM policies in return-to-work outcomes for the injured worker, (2) examine factors that influence employer's DM perceptions, polices and return-to-work outcomes, and (3) examine the relationship between demographic factors of the individual and return-to-work outcomes. Employers from a northern British Columbia, Canada community were randomly selected to participate. The findings of the study supported the hypothesis that company perception towards DM is a significant contributing factor to the presence of DM policies in the workplace and that DM polices are predictive of return-to-work outcomes for injured workers.

Dimensions of Control as Related to Work Organization, Stress, and Health

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Aronsson
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Work Organization ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Control Concept ◽  
Production Techniques ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Stress And Health

The aim of this article is to examine how increased worker control-on the individual as well as on the collective level-may be a means to reduce the risk of work environment-related stress and diseases. Control is also an important element in socialization processes and in work reform activities directed to a democratization of working life. The concept of control connects a number of research perspectives. It deals with the individual and the collective level, as well as the relationship between them, and it may be a bridge between a social psychological and a psychobiological perspective. In this article, the author considers the control concept primarily from a stress perspective, but also examines how production techniques, legislation, and management strategies create the structure of control at work.

scholarly journals Supporting workers with lower back injuries to return to work: a meta-ethnography

2020 ◽  
pp. 030802262093060
Author(s):  
Rebecca Robart ◽  
Paul Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Injured Worker ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Back Injuries ◽  
Lower Back ◽  
Ethnographic Approach ◽  
Strength Based

Introduction Lower back injuries can prevent people from engaging in the occupation of work, which is considered to be beneficial to physical and mental wellbeing. Return-to-work programmes aim to support people to re-engage with work; however, the success of these can be varied. The aim of this review was to explore what factors facilitated a return to work for those in employment, and what the factors may be in preventing others from making a successful return to work. Method A systematic search of the literature identified 10 qualitative research studies, and a meta-ethnographic approach was then used to critique and synthesise the findings to provide a line of argument. Findings Interrogation of the selected studies brought about three third-order interpretations as follows: enabling injured workers to return to work safely; challenging negative assumptions; overcoming organisational barriers. Conclusion The study supports previous findings that emphasise consideration of wider organisational and psychosocial factors relating to supporting people to return to work, rather than focusing solely on the injured worker. Suggestions are made for the modification of current work practices, the need for a strength-based approach to rehabilitation and for occupational therapists who might work with people living with back pain.

Do Health Service Use and Return-to-Work Outcomes Differ with GPs’ Injured-Worker Caseload?

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-71
Author(s):  
Danielle Mazza ◽  
Bianca Brijnath ◽  
Mary Alice O’Hare ◽  
Rasa Ruseckaite ◽  
Agnieszka Kosny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Health Service Use ◽  
Injured Worker

scholarly journals Case studies of employers with exemplary early intervention and return to work practices

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Randall
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
List Type ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Ample Evidence

Background: There is ample evidence that returning to suitable work is good for an injured worker's health and wellbeing. Evidence from the 2013 National Return to Work Survey shows a positive relationship between employers’ treatment of injured workers and return to work outcomes.Objectives: The case studies project aims to provide: •employers with examples of practical solutions, practices or systems to improve return to work outcomes, and•policy makers with a summary of key themes and best practice approaches to inform the development of policy and programs.Methods: Organisations for the case studies will be shortlisted from recent Australian national return to work award winners and finalists. Key players within the organisations, including managers, supervisors, rehabilitation co-ordinators and recovered injured workers, will be interviewed to obtain information and attitudes on the early intervention and return to work approaches. An analysis of the case studies and a literature review on current best practice for early intervention and return to work will be conducted from which key themes and practices will be identified.Findings: The project will produce two reports: case studies of six organisations’ practices, and an analytical report on key findings and best practice for early intervention and return to work. The case studies will provide employers and workers published examples of practical approaches to improving return to work outcomes. The case studies also explore the roles and views of management, supervisors and injured workers. The analytical report will examine the case studies and report on key themes and best practice, providing policy makers and employers with an analysis of findings. The 2013 National Return to Work survey provides supporting evidence of the positive relationship between return to work outcomes and a range of variables related to the role of the employer and the workplace.Conclusion: It is anticipated the case studies project will provide examples of practical approaches to improving early intervention and return to work outcomes, which other organisations may consider implementing.

scholarly journals Return to work rate rises in the Sunshine State (Queensland, Australia)

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Stratford
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Work Rate ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Annual Survey ◽  
Work Outcome ◽  
State Records

Measuring return to work outcomes after injury is in itself a challenge for most workers’ compensation schemes. Increasing return to work rates is even more difficult. In Australia, the national return to work measure obtained via an annual survey of injured workers has not risen since its introduction in 1997/98. However, unlike most other Australian jurisdictions, Queensland, Australia's ‘sunshine state’, records return to work outcomes at the end of every time lost claim. More than this, Queensland has increased its overall return to work outcome in recent years from 90% to over 95%. A number of specific strategies were introduced to improve these return to work results. The presentation will outline these strategies which other jurisdictions and countries can hopefully learn from. In addition, WorkCover Queensland, the state's monopoly insurer outside self-insurers, has introduced further return to work measures it successfully uses both internally and externally.

scholarly journals Getting the Message Right: Evidence-Based Insights to Improve Organizational Return-to-Work Communication Practices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arif Jetha ◽  
Morgane Le Pouésard ◽  
Cameron Mustard ◽  
Catherine Backman ◽  
Monique A. M. Gignac
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Occupational Injury ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Disability Management ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Word Choice ◽  
Injured Worker ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Communication Practices ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPurpose There is an absence of evidence-based guidance to support workplace stakeholders in the effective delivery of return-to-work (RTW) messages. Our study examines the specific RTW communication practices and their impact on the management of work disability. Methods Within two large and complex healthcare organizations, semi-structured interviews were conducted with workplace stakeholders (e.g., supervisors, union representatives, disability management professionals and workers’ compensation representatives) and workers who had previously experienced sickness absence related to an occupational injury or illness. For workplace stakeholders interview questions asked about their roles and responsibilities in the RTW process, and specific communication strategies and messages that were used at different phases of the RTW process. For worker participants, interview questions explored RTW experiences and the impact of communication on work re-integration. An interpretative descriptive approach was used to inductively examine themes from interviews to create ways of understanding phenomena that yielded applied findings. Results Forty participants were interviewed including workplace stakeholders and workers. Participants frequently described effective RTW communication as messages that were delivered by a workplace stakeholder that included the content required by an injured worker to navigate the organizational disability management process and utilized specific strategies to address the perceived attitudes and perceptions held by an injured worker regarding work re-integration. Workplace stakeholders described five specific communication strategies including relaying messages of support, optimizing the timing of communication, careful word choice, framing messages, and tailoring communication to the injured worker.  Conclusion RTW communication is an active process that requires a strategic approach. Effective communication practices represent an important strategy for workplace stakeholders to address the barriers held by injured workers and foster early and sustained RTW.

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.

Prediction of Return to Work Outcomes Under an Injured Worker Case Management Program

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenming Kong ◽  
Dan Tang ◽  
Xiaoyuan Luo ◽  
Ignatius Tak Sun Yu ◽  
Youxin Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Management ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Injured Worker ◽  
Case Management Program

Failures in Occupational Rehabilitation: A Case Study Analysis

1995 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianna T. Kenny
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Occupational Rehabilitation ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Worker Characteristics ◽  
Worker Perceptions

Forty-nine injured workers were selected from a study population of 3,041 injured workers using a critical case sampling technique, to explore characteristics of workplaces and worker perceptions and attributions related to return to work status following workplace injury. The only significant differences between those who returned and those who did not return to work were satisfaction with pre-injury pay and provision of training in occupational health and safety procedures. From the in-depth structured interviews of 49 injured workers, 5 workers who failed to return to work were selected for detailed case study to further explicate the factors which contributed to unsuccessful rehabilitation. Worker characteristics, the timing and meaning of the injury to individual workers, and conflicting and unstated agendas in the occupational rehabilitation process, were all identified as critical factors which impact on return to work outcomes.

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