Needed and Received Work Accommodations During Return to Work Among Employees with Common Mental Disorders and...

Work accommodations can facilitate return to work (RTW), but little is known about work accommodation needs and practices among employees with common mental disorders (CMDs). This study examines (1) needed work accommodations for RTW, (2) received work accommodations during RTW, and (3) the longitudinal relationships between received work accommodations and both depressive symptoms and work ability after RTW.

Data were collected in two German longitudinal studies among employees with CMDs on long-term sickness absence: (I) an observational cohort study (F2385; N = 286; 30-month follow-up); and (II) a randomized controlled trial (RTW-PIA; N = 424; 24-month follow-up). Needed and received work accommodations were described and compared. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the longitudinal relationships between received work accommodations and both depressive symptoms and work ability after RTW.

Before RTW, 91-99% of the employees reported work accommodation needs, most frequently a gradual RTW (54-78%), workload reduction (35-45%), improvement of work organisation (31-55%), and regular feedback talks with supervisors (29-42%). During RTW, 64% of participants in both datasets received at least one work accommodation, most often a gradual RTW (48-49%), job change (28-29%), or workload reduction (11-19%). Only 13-16% had all work accommodation needs met. Receiving ≥ 1 work accommodation was related to reduced depressive symptoms and increased work ability after RTW.

More frequent and systematic provision of work accommodations, particularly regarding the improvement of working conditions, is essential to support recovery and RTW for employees with CMDs.