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

The return-to-work process

Helping people to return to work as soon as possible after a long-term illness, injury or disability 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.

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).