Return-to-Work Within a Complex and Dynamic Organizational Work Disability System

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Systems Science
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Return-to-work (RTW) within complex organizations often leads to suboptimal outcomes.
• Understanding the intricate factors influencing RTW is crucial for improving worker reintegration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply a sociotechnical systems perspective to investigate the complexity of RTW.
• To use system dynamics modeling (SDM) to examine feedback relationships influencing RTW.

Main Methods:

• Developed SDMs within two companies involving 30 stakeholders.
• Utilized participant-elicited data and literature to parameterize models.
• Conducted simulations to assess policy impacts on RTW likelihood and preparedness.

Main Results:

• Identified multidimensional SDMs including individual, psychosocial, and organizational factors.
• Psychosocial components like social support and communication significantly impacted RTW.
• Simulations indicated work disability policies sometimes had diminishing or opposing effects on RTW.

Conclusions:

• SDM offers a novel systems perspective on RTW.
• Policy and psychosocial factors critically influence RTW outcomes, potentially leading to unintended consequences.