Availability, Need for, and Use of Work Accommodations and Benefits: Are They Related to Employment Outcomes in People With Arthritis?

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the availability, need, and use of workplace policies for workers with osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory arthritis (IA) and their association with employment outcomes.MethodsParticipants (n = 219) were employed, ages ≥25 years, and diagnosed with OA or IA. They were recruited through community advertising and rheumatology clinics in 2 Canadian provinces. Respondents completed a 35–45‐minute telephone interview assessing demographics (age, sex), health (diagnosis, pain, activity limitations), work context (job control), employment outcomes (workplace activity limitations, absenteeism, productivity losses, reduced hours), benefits (extended health, short‐term leaves), and accommodations (flexible hours, modified schedules, special equipment/adaptations, work‐at‐home arrangements). Regression analyses examined differences in benefit/accommodation need and use.ResultsMany participants reported that arthritis impacted their work. But with the exception of extended health benefits, ∼50–65% of participants reported not needing each individual benefit/accommodation, although only 7.3% of respondents reported needing no benefits or accommodations at all. Greater job control and education were associated with greater perceived need and use of benefits/accommodations. Need was also associated with greater activity limitations, and disclosure of arthritis was related to use of benefits/accommodations. Participants needing but not using workplace policies often had significantly poorer employment outcomes compared to those using benefits/accommodations.ConclusionFindings are relevant to workers with arthritis and to employers. Results suggest that individuals with arthritis are unlikely to be a drain on workplace resources. Many individuals do not use benefits/accommodations until needed, and among those using them, there were generally positive relationships with diverse employment outcomes.

Job Accommodations Availability and Utilization Among People With Lupus: An Examination of Workplace Activity Limitations and Work Context Factors

“…Participants were asked about 13 job accommodations (a combination of those commonly provided to employees in Canadian organizations and others found in the literature) (23,26,27,(35)(36)(37). Participants were asked whether each accommodation was needed (yes/no).…”

“…These policies and laws are meant to reduce the impact of disabilities and potential employment disparities by eliminating barriers and helping persons with disabilities and chronic conditions gain access to employment and to manage job tasks (17). Some research among individuals with rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus), has found that individuals who used job accommodations were more likely to remain employed (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23); had better performance evaluations, attendance, productivity, and safety records; and had lower turnover rates (24)(25)(26). However, studies also suggest that many individuals do not take advantage of job accommodations, despite having musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis (23,26,27).…”

Accommodations and Adaptations to Overcome Workplace Disability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Systematic Review

“…Over 60% of respondents stated they did not need the work at home arrangements (64.8%), which was also equal to the IBD patients included in this study. Among the osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis patients needing benefits or accommodations, many participants were able to use them, but overall this was more difficult in the accommodations requested by patients with IBD in this systematic review [11]. …”

“…To compare IBD to other chronic diseases, we looked at a study concerning the availability, need, and use of workplace adaptations of workers with osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis [11]. The accommodation most reported was special equipment and adaptations of the workplace, with most respondents receiving some form of accommodation.…”

“…This has been shown in other chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis [11, 12]. The aim of the present study is to systematically review the literature regarding overcoming workplace disability in persons with IBD.…”