Affiliations: Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, ON,
Canada | Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada | Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine,
University of British Columbia, BC, Canada | Organizational Solutions Inc., Burlington, ON,
Canada | Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of
Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada | The University of Texas School of Public Heath,
Houston, TX, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Jason W. Busse, Institute for Work
& Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G
2E9. Tel.: +1 416 927 2027; Fax: +1 416 927 4167; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objectives: Return to work after a leave on disability is a common
phenomenon, but little is known about the attitudes of employees or their
supervisors towards the disability management process. We report on employee
and supervisor feedback from one disability management experience. Participants: 389 consecutive employees from the Ontario offices of a single
private Canadian insurance company returning to work from short-term
disability, and their supervisors. Methods: We surveyed employees and
their supervisors about their experience with, and attitudes towards, the
disability management process. Results: Of those surveyed, 88 employees
and 75 supervisors provided data (response rates of 22.6% and 19.3%
respectively). The majority of respondents (79.1% of employees and
supervisors) endorsed positive attitudes towards their disability management
experience. More than 25% of employees disagreed with the following three
items: case managers contributed to recovery, case managers removed barriers to
recovery, and sufficient support was provided in the return to work process.
More than 25% of employees and managers reported that a commitment to modify
an unhelpful work situation was not followed through. Conclusion: The
majority of participating employees returning to work from short-term
disability, and their supervisors, reported a high level of satisfaction with
the disability management process. Areas that may benefit from attention
include some aspects of case manager-employee interaction and ensuring that
support during the return to work process is provided, including modification
to work situations when appropriate.
Keywords: Short term disability, return to work, case management
