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Good Intentions? Employer Representative Conceptualizations and, Challenges to the Workplace Accommodation Process: The Case of Electrical Injuries

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Abstract

Returning to work following an electrical injury can be challenging due to the confluence of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments that may arise. Workplace accommodations aim to facilitate return to work and workers’ participation in the workplace. To date, there has been no qualitative study of workplace accommodations following electrical injuries or any in-depth examination of how employers conceptualize and implement workplace accommodations. This study examines workplace accommodations for individuals who suffered electrical injuries at the workplace from employer representative perspectives. Ten in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with twelve employer representatives who work within the electrical sector in Ontario, Canada. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to the identification, provision and implementation of accommodations. Findings are discussed in relation to five themes: i) employers’ beliefs related to returning injured workers to work; ii) employers’ conceptualizations of accommodations and the types of accommodations provided; iii) knowledge and process elements relevant to the provision and implementation of workplace accommodations; iv) challenges to the accommodation process; and v) supports that employers drew upon to facilitate the identification and provision of accommodations. Recommendations are provided for enhancing knowledge regarding electrical injuries, human rights policies related to workplace accommodations, examining challenges related to privacy and discrimination and enhanced supports for employers to facilitate the provision of accommodations.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Institute for Gender and Health Grant (#OGW123786). The authors would like to thank the employer representatives who participated in this study for sharing their experiences and expertise in providing workplace accommodations and Dr. Joel Moody for his contributions to the study. Through discussions of both their successes and challenges in implementing accommodations we have gained a more in-depth understanding of the elements relevant to their successful provision. We would also like to acknowledge The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Foundation and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, which provided funding under the Provincial Rehabilitation Research Program to the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network. Support for Dr. Colantonio was provided by the CIHR-IGH Chair, Gender, Work and Health (# CGW-126580) and the Saunderson Family Chair in Acquired Brain Injury Research at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Science and Occupational, University of Toronto, Room 914 160- 500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Mary Stergiou-Kita & Angela Colantonio

  2. Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Elizabeth Mansfield & Angela Colantonio

  3. Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy MSc OT Candidate, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Liane Daiter

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  1. Mary Stergiou-Kita
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  2. Elizabeth Mansfield
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  3. Liane Daiter
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  4. Angela Colantonio
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Correspondence to Mary Stergiou-Kita.

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Stergiou-Kita, M., Mansfield, E., Daiter, L. et al. Good Intentions? Employer Representative Conceptualizations and, Challenges to the Workplace Accommodation Process: The Case of Electrical Injuries. Employ Respons Rights J 27, 1–25 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-014-9242-5

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