Interrelated Factors for Return to Work of Sick-Listed Employees in Sweden

Purpose: Long-term sickness absence is a significant human and economic cost in many countries, including Sweden making research on factors which impact on return to work (RTW) relevant. This study has two aims: (1) provide an overview of factors that impact RTW expectations in a national sample of Swedish workers on long-term sickness absence; and (2) gain an understanding of the interrelationships among these factors using a socioecological framework and decision tree analysis. Method: A survey, designed to capture information about demographic variables, health and work ability, workplace contact, supervisor support and expectations of return to work, was mailed to 1,112 randomly selected sick-listed people in Sweden and completed by 534, representing a response rate of 48%. Results: The most important factors affecting RTW expectations were work ability and burnout. Employees reporting high levels of work ability were more likely to expect to RTW compared to those reporting low levels, and this was dependent on their relative burnout score. Those with a high burnout score were less likely to expect to RTW, while for those with a low burnout score RTW expectations were dependent on age, country of birth, and supervisor support. For young employees reporting low work ability and low burnout score, RTW expectations were lower. Conclusions: Our results suggest a more nuanced approach to delivery of RTW services is required, whereby practitioners need to understand the socioecology of the range of factors that impact RTW expectations. The use of decision tree analysis facilitates this understanding by describing the interrelationships between these factors.

Disclosing a Diagnosis in the Workplace: Perspective of People With Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Early withdrawal from the workforce is associated with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), with employment retention rates also lower than in the general population. Despite legal requirements, equality in the workplace for people with MS has not been achieved. Disclosure of multiple sclerosis at work is essential for the implementation of accommodations enabling employment retention. Method: An interpretive descriptive study explored participants’ decision to disclose or not disclose their diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and the implications this had on work participation and working relationships. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data from 6 participants. Results: Three themes were identified, using a reflective approach to analysis, from the data: (a) Accommodations; (b) Workplace Relationships; and (c) Balancing Work and Home Life. Participants had mixed experiences of disclosing their diagnosis. Findings supported the implementation of workplace accommodations including physical, cognitive, and structural supports. Concealment of MS was associated with fear of workplace stigmatisation. Conclusion: Disclosure is multidimensional and subjective. It is based on personal, systematic, and social factors. This study was limited by the small number of participants and not including stakeholders in the creation of the topic guide. The results are important for those involved in supporting people with multiple sclerosis to remain in the workplace.

The Role of Disability and Accessibility in Corporate Sustainability Reporting

Although companies increasingly focus on the social dimension in corporate sustainability, there seems to be a lack of understanding how and to what extent disability and accessibility frameworks and activities are integrated in corporate sustainability reports. In this article, we aim to close this gap by (a) analysing the disability and accessibility (D&A) activities from the largest 50 companies in Europe based on their corporate sustainability reports, and (b) advancing a simplified conceptual framework for D&A that can be used in corporate reporting. In particular, we provide an overview about corporate D&A reporting and associated activities according to three identified areas: (a) workforce, (b) workplace, and (c) products and services. Our findings are twofold: First, the majority of the companies address D&A in their corporate sustainability reports mainly under the diversity umbrella, but lack a detailed debate about the three identified areas. Second, we found that existing frameworks for D&A are hardly used because either they are not focused on corporate reporting or seem too difficult or complicated to complete. Thus, our framework not only represents a first opportunity to foster the implementation of a D&A framework within the social dimension of corporate sustainability reports, but also presents a holistic yet flexible management tool that takes into account the most critical elements while shaping implementation, directing evaluation and encouraging future planning of D&A initiatives. As such, this study contributes to and extends the limited amount of research of D&A activities in the social dimension in corporate sustainability reporting.

The Importance of Organizational Climate in Healthy Workplaces: Considerations for Disability Management

Background: In 2013, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) released national, comprehensive guidelines for psychological health in the workplace. Nevertheless, follow-up surveys report poor uptake of the guidelines, particularly within the manufacturing sector, despite recent Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal (WSAIT) decisions that place greater responsibilities on employers to protect employees from psychological injury. Hence, this program of research has focused on the context of the work environment with a goal to better understand and inform current application of healthy workplace practices and policies. The overarching premise is that the full potential of a healthy workplace is optimised when set within a specific climate that values the health of workers. Therefore, Phase 1 reported the development of a workplace scale measuring a domain-specific climate for healthy practices in the workplace. Phase 2, reported here, tests the differential influence of culture, leadership and social climate on workers’ perceptions of healthy workplace practices and occupational bond. Method: Self-reported measures of culture, leadership social climate, healthy workplace practices and occupational bond from 162 participants were analysed to test the organisation’s culture, climate, leadership and practices as internal processes that influence the development of a healthy workplace Results: Adequately powered (N = 162), the mediational analyses demonstrated the significance of the proximal work environment of climate over the distal influence of culture and leadership. The key results demonstrate that the proximal environment has a significant influence on how workers perceive their workplaces. This has implications for the implementation of the guidelines for healthy workplaces.

Exploring Participants’ Views on a Supported Work Internship Program for Autistic and Learning Disabled Young People

Individuals with additional needs, such as learning disabilities, face a crisis of unemployment in the United Kingdom (UK). Many of these individuals encounter few adult services that are in place to address their support needs. Supported work internship programs are one attempt to address this crisis. One such program for young people with learning disabilities is the Project SEARCH model. Though a number of research studies have explored the efficacy of the Project SEARCH model, the reported markers of success (e.g., subsequent employment rates) have not taken into account first-hand participant experiences. The current study aimed to establish whether participant views were consistent with the previously reported, positive, quantitative measures. We explored the views of seven interns, aged 17 to 24 years, with various learning difficulties, and three job coaches who were involved in the program from September 2017 to June 2018. Semistructured interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Participants revealed meaningful experiences for those involved, positive self-development, and renewed aspirations for the future. The value of a strong and consistent support network involving family members, job coaches, coworkers, and supervisors was highlighted. The study also found ongoing challenges associated with the scheme. These centred on concerns that interns’ abilities were being underestimated, the impact of a reduction/withdrawal of support at the conclusion of the program, and the barriers to finding subsequent competitive employment for interns. The research highlights the value of eliciting participant voice within research, and discusses how the findings can be used to further develop supported work internship programs.

Visibility, Contact and Market-Competence: Keys to the Inclusion of People With Intellectual Disabilities in the Lebanese Workplace

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience high unemployment due to external (stigma, parental overprotection and low expectations) and internal (learned helplessness) barriers. Although Lebanon was a pioneer among Arab countries in its legislative and social activism toward inclusion of disabled people, stigma persists and a benevolence model of disability still prevails. Aims: This article aims at identifying the needs of people with ID, and proposing directions for future work toward their inclusion in the Lebanese workplace, based on identified needs. Methodology: A literature search for articles on ID in Lebanon and national and regional reports on employment of people with ID over the past two decades was performed, excluding all documentation using unclear definitions of ID or focusing on mental illness. Findings: Analysis of the literature highlighted the need for more familiarity and contact with, for more visibility of, and more market-competent training for people with ID in Lebanon. Conclusions and implications: Prejudice and faulty conceptions of ID can be reduced by increasing visibility of people with ID through increased everyday life contact opportunities. Change is urged at the level of organisational sheltered training to provide a more market-competent training for ensuring proper job placement of people with ID in mainstream labour.

Inclusion at the Workplace: An Exploratory Study of People with Disabilities in South Africa

Research on the employment experiences of persons with disabilities on a global level indicates that this group is faced with the challenge of inclusion in the workplace. While South Africa has a well-defined legislative framework that has been determined in consultation with disabled people’s organisations, compliance with legislation appears to have failed to ensure that employment targets are met. As a response to these challenges, this study explored the early inclusion experiences of persons with disabilities in the workplace via a qualitative, explorative, case study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people with a range of different disabilities and working for different organisations, in order to provide insight into the initial experiences of inclusion for persons with disabilities in the workplace. Findings showed challenges in induction and orientation practices, struggles with disclosure of disability to coworkers, a desire to strive for ‘normality’, and frustration and vulnerability in the workplace. Taken together, the findings point to the importance of early experiences of inclusion in the workplace – that is, inclusionary practices during the employee induction phase. This study offers insights to organisations and management practitioners for the promotion of better employment experiences. Recommendations include the appointment of a disability champion to account for disability equity within the organisation, the development of more inclusive recruitment and orientation practices, drawing on coworkers for support, and the active involvement of persons with disabilities in shaping onboarding processes. Embarking on these steps may ultimately result in a more diverse workforce within South Africa.

Understanding Local Barriers to Inclusion for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Through an Employment Conference

Employment is a crucial part of adult life and is associated with improved health outcomes. However, despite the several advantages of hiring individuals with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD), the employment rate for this population is still low. An employment conference was organised to inform participants of successful employment initiatives, and to increase our understanding of local employer challenges regarding the recruitment, hire, and retention of employees with IDD. Descriptive statistics were used to assess common methods of recruitment, potential helpful hiring strategies, and recruitment, hire, and retention challenges, and an ordinal logistic regression was conducted to examine whether responses differed based on demographic variables. The conference was evaluated by gathering data on several facets of participant satisfaction. Findings brought to light several key challenges that can be used to create more targeted interventions and supports. Responses to several questions differed by demographics (such as company size and industry type), which represent important areas for future research to examine. Participants reported being satisfied with the conference, and many indicated that their attitudes had changed towards disability and that they were more likely to employ individuals with IDD in the future. Systematically addressing barriers to employment is essential in order to reduce the employment gap and improve outcomes for individuals with IDD. Ultimately, conferences that aim to educate participants about successful programs and strategies represent a promising practice that can increase employment opportunities for individuals with IDD.

Employability Assessment in Australian Total and Permanent Disability Insurance Claims: A Survey of Claims Professionals’ Views

Employability assessment was developed to help claims professionals decide total and permanent disability insurance claims, yet it has not been empirically evaluated. This descriptive study sought formative knowledge about employability assessment from claims professionals working in the multibillion-dollar Australian life insurance total and permanent disability market. Claims assessors (n = 53) and technical advisors (n = 51) responded to a nationwide online survey. Participants found employability assessment was cost effective and very useful in deciding claims. Having an objective, realistic, and clear picture of a claimant’s employment prospects was important. Highly rated components of employability assessment included transferable skills analysis; summary of education, training and experience; job match rationale; and labour market analysis with employer contact. Face-to-face claimant interviews were favoured by 56% of participants, particularly when there was legal involvement. Standardised provider training and certification were recommended to improve report quality and withstand scrutiny of the courts. Billing time estimates are higher than extant costs for assessment tasks. More than half (56%) the participants considered rehabilitation counsellors were best qualified to conduct employability assessments. The study findings contribute new knowledge to this emergent field and point to further research into quality and cost of employability assessment, and provider accreditation.

Barriers to Psychologists’ Adherence to Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Treating Musculoskeletal Injuries Within the State Insurance Regulatory Authority Compensation Schemes

Objectives:The use of evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines by psychologists working within the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) compensation schemes for treating musculoskeletal injuries has been found to vary. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore psychologists’ perceived barriers to adhering with EBP guidelines implemented by the New South Wales (NSW) SIRA.Methods:Registered psychologists (n= 20) working within the NSW SIRA compensation schemes participated in four focus groups conducted face-to-face (F2F) and online. Participants’ responses were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and entered into NVivo 11 software. Text data were analysed to identify recurrent themes within and across groups (metropolitan, regional and rural).Results:Thematic analysis revealed three key issues: (a) a lack of trust in the validity of the recommended EBP guidelines; (b) lack of knowledge of the psychologist’s role in this context and insufficient skills to fully apply the guidelines, protocols and procedures; and (c) a poor fit between EBP guidelines, client presentations and circumstances, and the SIRA compensation schemes.ConclusionThe findings showed that both individual practitioner variables and contextual barriers influenced adherence to EBP. Practical implications for future research include generating recommendations to overcome the identified barriers using a collaborative approach between policymakers, researchers and practitioners.