Why is it important to address return-to-work?

OSH Professional

4: Return to work

Why is it important to address return-to-work?

Many workers leave the labour market permanently as a result of health problems or , and too few people with reduced work capability manage to remain in employment.

The process

Helping people to return to work as soon as possible after a long-term illness, injury or is of utmost importance. The longer the duration of the sickness absence, the more barriers workers experience in going back and the lower the likelihood of a successful and lasting return to work.

processes are a shared responsibility between the employer, worker, healthcare services and other actors. Occupational healthcare providers and health and safety representatives have a central role to play in implementing such processes and policies in the workplace. Read more here.

Occupational safety and health and return-to-work (next section).