Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20328
Title: The Role of Co-Workers in the Return-to-Work Process
Contributor(s): Dunstan, Debra  (author)orcid ; Mortelmans, Katrien (author); Tjulin, Åsa (author); MacEachen, Ellen (author)
Publication Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1017/idm.2015.2
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20328
Abstract: There is a large body of research examining work disability management and the return to work (RTW) of sick or injured workers. However, although this research makes clear the roles of the returning worker and supervisor, that of the co-workers is less well understood. To increase understanding of this topic, we have identified, reviewed, and discussed three studies that emerged from our connection with a Canadian research-training program. The first study, conducted in Sweden by Tjulin, MacEachen, and Ekberg (2009), showed that co-workers can play a positive role in RTW, but this is often invisible to supervisors. The second study, undertaken by Dunstan and MacEachen (2013) in Canada, found that RTW could both positively and negatively impact co-workers. For instance, co-workers may benefit from learning new skills, but may also be burdened by the need to assume extra work to accommodate a returning worker. The third study, performed in Belgium by Mortelmans and Verjans (2012) and Mortelmans, Verjans, and Mairiaux (2012) reported the need to include the expectations and objections of co-workers in RTW plans and implemented a three-step RTW tool that involves co-workers. Taken together, these studies highlight the social context of work, the positive role played by co-workers in the RTW process, the impacts of workplace social relations on RTW outcomes, and the benefits to all of involving co-workers in RTW plans.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: International Journal of Disability Management, v.10, p. 1-7
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1834-4887
1833-8550
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 170109 Personality, Abilities and Assessment
170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology
170113 Social and Community Psychology
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 520108 Testing, assessment and psychometrics
420403 Psychosocial aspects of childbirth and perinatal mental health
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920204 Evaluation of Health Outcomes
920209 Mental Health Services
920403 Disability and Functional Capacity
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200202 Evaluation of health outcomes
200305 Mental health services
200403 Disability and functional capacity
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Psychology

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