Implementing a collaborative return-to-work program: Lessons from a qualitative study in a large Canadian healthcare...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Organizational Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Consistent return-to-work policies are crucial for reducing absence duration and long-term disability.
• This study examines the implementation of a new return-to-work program from managerial and coordinator perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To offer practical guidance for organizations developing and implementing employee return-to-work programs.
• To identify key challenges and facilitators in the initial stages of return-to-work program rollout.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 20 managers and 10 return-to-work coordinators.
• Data collected from a large Ontario, Canada healthcare organization over the first 18 months of program implementation.
• Thematic analysis was employed to interpret participant perspectives on program progress.

Main Results:

• Identified significant tensions during the early implementation phase of the return-to-work program.
• Uncertainties regarding roles and responsibilities were a primary source of implementation challenges.
• Conflicting objectives or principles within the program also contributed to observed difficulties.

Conclusions:

• Implementing comprehensive, collaborative return-to-work programs presents considerable complexity.
• Findings offer valuable insights for organizations planning or currently developing their return-to-work initiatives.