Well-Being at Work after Return to Work (RTW): A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health Psychology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Workplace Well-being Studies

Background:

• Employee well-being post-return to work (RTW) is crucial for rehabilitation and maintaining work capacity.
• Limited research exists on psychosocial factors influencing well-being during RTW after long-standing health issues or disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review psychosocial factors predicting subjective and psychological well-being in employees during RTW processes.
• To evaluate the impact of RTW on the well-being of employees with chronic health problems or disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies from PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and other databases, including expert-identified articles.
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies measuring employee well-being at work after RTW.
• Selected 20 studies out of 264 based on predefined quality criteria.

Main Results:

• Autonomy at work positively influences psychological well-being during RTW.
• Job demands are associated with lower job satisfaction, while work-health balance enhances it.
• Internal and external support positively correlates with job satisfaction for employees with health conditions.

Conclusions:

• Employee well-being after RTW is under-researched, despite its significance.
• Findings suggest autonomy, work-health balance, and support are key factors for positive RTW experiences.
• Further research is essential to understand and improve RTW well-being in the evolving labor market.