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Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation

Erschienen in:

01.12.2015

Manager Experiences with the Return to Work Process in a Large, Publically Funded, Hospital Setting: Walking a Fine Line

verfasst von: Mette Jensen Stochkendahl, Corrie Myburgh, Amanda Ellen Young, Jan Hartvigsen

Erschienen in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Ausgabe 4/2015

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Abstract

Purpose Previous research on the role of managers in the return to work (RTW) process has primarily been conducted in contexts where the workplace has declared organizational responsibility for the process. While this is a common scenario, in some countries, including Denmark, there is no explicit legal obligation on the workplace to accommodate RTW. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge about the potential roles and contributions of managers in supporting returning employees in a context where they have no legal obligation to actively support RTW. Methods Nineteen Danish hospital managers participated in a one-on-one interview or focus group discussions aimed at identifying barriers and facilitators for supporting employees in their RTW. Five individual interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted. Transcripts were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results Four main themes were identified: (1) ‘Coordinator and collaborator’; (2) ‘Dilemmas of the RTW policy enforcer’; (3) ‘The right to be sick and absent’; and (4) ‘Keep the machinery running…’. Our findings indicated that supervisors’ capacity to support returning workers was related to individual, communication, organizational, and policy factors. Instances were observed where supervisors faced the dilemma of balancing ethical and managerial principles with requirements of keeping staffing budgets. Conclusion Although it is not their legislative responsibility, Danish managers play a key role in the RTW process. As has been observed in other contexts, Danish supervisors struggle to balance considerations for the returning worker with those of their teams.

In Denmark, most collective agreements state that, in case of a child’s first day of illness, employees have the right to one day of special leave with salary if the leave is compatible with the workplace and the work schedule.

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Titel: Manager Experiences with the Return to Work Process in a Large, Publically Funded, Hospital Setting: Walking a Fine Line
verfasst von: Mette Jensen Stochkendahl
Corrie Myburgh
Amanda Ellen Young
Jan Hartvigsen
Publikationsdatum: 01.12.2015
Verlag: Springer US
Erschienen in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Ausgabe 4/2015
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-015-9583-4

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Manager Experiences with the Return to Work Process in a Large, Publically Funded, Hospital Setting: Walking a Fine Line

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