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Implementing Best Practice Models of Return to Work

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Handbook of Disability, Work and Health

Part of the book series: Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences ((HDBSOHS,volume 1))

Abstract

Over the last few decades, we have seen a considerable number of models of return to work (RTW) and work disability. The majority of these are conceptual models developed from research on musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this chapter is to develop a new practice-based model of RTW implementation, compare it to existing practice-based models, demonstrate the application of the new model using a case scenario, and indicate how it fits with recommendations for best practices from those engaged in RTW on a daily basis. The “Best Practices for RTW Implementation Model” has a holistic approach and identifies three stages involved in best practices for RTW, Stay-at-Work, early RTW, and prolonged RTW and takes into account the workplace’s organizational culture and structure. Keys to staying at work are positive supervisor and co-worker relations to enable early identification and action to solve problems. For early RTW, the role of the RTW coordinator is key, and workplace adjustments that may be both formal and informal are an important mechanism to get absent workers back into the workplace as soon as possible. Prolonged RTW follows from an unsuccessful RTW, and optimizing the work environment to match the (remaining) capacities of the employee is central. The model has the capacity to be of value to both researchers and practitioners focusing on the RTW process regardless of reason for employee absence or jurisdiction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EPID@Work Research Institute, Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

    Vicki L. Kristman

  2. Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Cecile R. L. Boot

  3. EPID@Work Research Institute, Faculty of Business Administration, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

    Kathy Sanderson

  4. EPID@Work Research Institute, School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

    Kathryn E. Sinden

  5. Dhillon School of Business, University of Lethbridge, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Kelly Williams-Whitt

Authors
  1. Vicki L. Kristman
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  2. Cecile R. L. Boot
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  3. Kathy Sanderson
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  4. Kathryn E. Sinden
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  5. Kelly Williams-Whitt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vicki L. Kristman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen Department of Health Sciences, Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Ute Bültmann

  2. Medizinische Fakultät, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldo Medizinische Fakultät, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Johannes Siegrist

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Kristman, V.L., Boot, C.R.L., Sanderson, K., Sinden, K.E., Williams-Whitt, K. (2020). Implementing Best Practice Models of Return to Work. In: Bültmann, U., Siegrist, J. (eds) Handbook of Disability, Work and Health. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75381-2_32-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75381-2_32-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-75381-2

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