Policy Guidelines for Effective Inclusion and Reintegration of People with Chronic Diseases in the Workplace: National and European Perspectives

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among the European working age population, as well as the implications for the individual and societal level, underline the need for policy guidelines targeting the effective inclusion of persons with chronic diseases in the workplace. The aim of the present paper was to explore the perspectives of European and National-level stakeholders on existing strategies for work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases, and to provide policy guidelines. A highly-structured interview protocol was distributed to 58 National level stakeholders (policy makers, professionals and employers) from seven European countries. Additionally, 20 European organizations concerned with health-related issues and employment completed an online survey. The findings reveal that employment-related challenges remain largely unaddressed. Both national and European stakeholders considered the existing legislative frameworks inadequate and appraised the co-ordination for the implementation of employment re-integration policies as ineffective. Policies targeting at work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases at European and national level should focus on consistent cooperation among all key stakeholders, awareness raising to staff and management, dissemination of effective strategies, developing research and evaluation standards and establishing monitoring systems on inclusive labour markets.

Effectiveness of Integration and Re-Integration into Work Strategies for Persons with Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review of European Strategies

“…It is important to stress though that research on the effectiveness of policy strategies is complex, requires good quality and accessible register data and sophisticated data analyses approaches. It is therefore essential that Governments foster policy research by investing resources in large and reliable register databases, as recommended by the PATHWAYS project [ 50 ].…”

“…What this example clearly shows is that there is not a standard solution for all persons with chronic conditions and that it is important to define target groups in more detail and design interventions suitable for them. This example also points out to the importance of one of the policy recommendations of the PATWAYS project [ 50 ]: the need for individualized tailored strategies.…”

“…For instance, if there are no compensations (e.g., wage compensation, taxes reductions) for companies employing persons with higher levels of disability, the employment inequalities faced by this group may be perpetuated, particularly in countries with high unemployment rates. Indeed, a further PATHWAYS publication [ 50 ] showed that both national and European stakeholders are very critical regarding legislative frameworks and the coordination necessary for a sustainable implementation of employment re-integration policies, and considered existing policies and coordination strategies in Europe as inadequate and ineffective, respectively. The same study concludes that the dissemination and broader implementation of effective strategies must be accompanied by appropriate policies fostering a constructive cooperation among key stakeholders, by measures to raise awareness about persons with chronic conditions and work among employers, and by sound monitoring systems.…”

Gender perspective in the analysis of the relationship between health and work cessation, and how to deal with it

“…Research conducted on Belgian middle-aged workers demonstrated the importance of the work environment in the attendance behavior of individual workers [46]. The results of the PATHWAYS project showed that a modification of work-related aspects, such as the adaptation of working hours, working tasks and workload, could improve the situation of PwCDs on the labor market [47]. Those work-related aspects correspond to the most frequent needs declared by PwCDs [44].…”

Employment and Chronic Diseases: Suggested Actions for The Implementation of Inclusive Policies for The Participation of People with Chronic Diseases in the Labour Market

“…Faced with this evidence, the European PATHWAYS project (www.path-ways.eu), which identified the impact of chronic diseases on European socio-medical systems, has shown how the existing EU and national level legislations regarding inclusive work are not specifically addressed to people with chronic diseases [9][10][11]. Conversely, these legislations apply to specific population groups, such as people with disabilities, long-term unemployed and "fragile" groups, but do not necessarily answer the needs of people affected with one or more chronic diseases [12].…”