Article

The objective of this article was to explore the meaning of early
contact in return-to-work, and how social relational actions and conditions can
facilitate or impede early contact among actors in the workplace. METHOD: An
exploratory qualitative method was used, consisting of individual open-ended
interviews with 33 workplace actors at seven worksites across three public
employers in Sweden. The workplace actors represented in these interviews
included re-entering workers, supervisors, co-workers and human resources
managers. Organisational policies on return-to-work were collected from the three
employers. RESULTS: The analysis indicated that early contact is a complex
return-to-work measure with shifting incentives among workplace actors for making
contact. For instance, the findings indicated obligation and responsibilities as
incentives, incentives through social relations, and the need to acknowledge and
balance the individual needs in relation to early contact. CONCLUSION: The
findings strengthen the importance of early contact as a concept with a social
relational context that comprises more than just an activity carried out (or not)
by the employer, and suggest that early contact with a sick-listed worker is not
always the best approach for a return-to-work situation. This study provides a
starting point for a more articulated conceptualisation of early contact.

Langue : ANGLAIS