Returning to work after injury: factors that influence the timing

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Occupational hazards are an unfortunate way of life for workers in many industries. For some, the risk of serious injury or illness is considerable. More positive is the decline over recent decades in the number of such incidents reported. However, in Western nations the cost of injury or illness at work remains substantial. Statistics show that in European Union (EU) countries, it can range between 2.6 per cent and 3.8 per cent of GDP. Regulations and conditions within specific labor markets help determine where these costs are absorbed. There are wide variations across countries in terms of how injured employees are compensated during their time off work. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Gradual Return to Work for Workers With a Work-Acquired Musculoskeletal Disorder in British Columbia, Canada

“…Prospects of this occurring are greater in small firms where job security and employment protection legislation are generally not as strong. 41 While residual confounding remains a possibility without better measures of injury severity, even within the MSD category, the findings suggest that larger workplaces have more opportunities to provide Gradual RTW to injured workers. This is an important finding for workers' compensation systems and employers, since over 50% of workers in the current cohort worked in a firm with less than 100 FTEs and had a lower likelihood of Gradual RTW compared to very large firms.…”

“…As such, they may be effective advocates of Gradual RTW for injured workers. Further, the offer of Gradual RTW is often a function of firm size and financial capacity, and supported by studies showing a shorter work disability duration for workers in larger firms (eg, Breslin et al40 and Cole41…”