Supervising recovery
Take Home Messages:
Organisational responses impact employee recovery.
These responses are influenced by injury characteristics (gradual onset of injury) as well as by employee demographics (eg. age and gender).
Fairness is a skill that can be taught. Supervisors should be trained to identify their reactions to injured workers, and to provide positive support regardless of injury characteristics and employee demographics.
Positive employer response is characterised by support, cooperative problem solving, flexibility and making an effort to facilitate return to work.
Why the research matters:
An organisation's response to injured employees influences return-to work outcomes. Return to work strategies need to take into account the fact that employers and employees are people, who respond to one another subjectively.
This research identifies the factors which influence employers to react negatively to particular injured employees. It details employer responses which impact poorly on return to work outcomes, and highlights those which have a positive effect.
Teaching supervisors how to recognise and manage their response to injured employees has concrete organisational benefits. It reduces disability, improves productivity and saves money.
What the research involved:
The study analysed the work injury records in New Hampshire between 2000 and 2002.
Summary of research findings:
The following factors increased negative employer reactions to injured workers:
- Gradual onset injury;
- Injury resulting in lost time;
- Younger age worker;
- Female gender;
- More severe injury;
- Back injury;
- Job dissatisfaction before injury; and
- Difficulty performing the job before the injury.
Positive employer responses are characterised by:
- Supportive responses from supervisors and co-workers;
- Problem solving with practical solutions to address causes of injury;
- Job redesign / restructuring; and
- Efforts to enable a safe and stable work return.
Negative responses include:
- Denial of or lack of willingness to address workplace risk factors;
- Negative interactions with injured worker; and
- A lack of demonstrated employer commitment to problem-solving, injury prevention and accommodation of return to work
Original research:
Factors Affecting the Organisational Responses of Employers to Workers with Injuries
Y.H. Huang, G.S. Pransky, W.S. Shaw, K.L. Benjamin, J.A. Savageau.
Work 26 (2006) 75-84