Differences in perceived return-to-work barriers between manual and nonmanual workers

Return-to-work (RTW) support has become a growing priority in occupational health. Manual workers-who constitute over half of the global labor force-may face greater RTW barriers due to the physically demanding nature of their jobs. However, few studies have quantitatively compared the perceived RTW barriers between manual and nonmanual workers. This study aimed to compare perceived RTW barriers between manual and nonmanual workers with chronic conditions to inform the development of tailored support strategies.

We analyzed 219 employed adults, either actively working or on certified leave, who attended consultations at one particular hospital between September 2019 and June 2020 to obtain support for balancing work and medical treatment. Perceived RTW barriers were assessed with a validated 10-category yes/no structured checklist (personal: work ability/psychological/health literacy; workplace: structure/system/support; intersectoral/social). Logistic regression was performed to compare barriers between manual and nonmanual workers.

Manual workers were significantly more likely to report barriers related to psychological impacts (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34) and workplace systems (OR = 2.88). Although work ability did not differ significantly by job type, it was the most frequently reported RTW barrier in both groups.

Manual workers' RTW challenges are characterized by psychological and organizational barriers. RTW programs should assess psychological readiness before resumption of duties and provide managerial training to address anxiety and loss of confidence, while implementing job-specific accommodations such as phased tasks, ergonomic adjustments, and light duties in coordination with health care providers.