Return-to-work policies in Finnish occupational health services.
OBJECTIVE
To describe return-to-work services for employees on sick leave offered by Finnish occupational health services (OHS).


METHODS
Finnish OHS are surveyed every 3 years. Respondents are asked if they offer services to facilitate return to work (RTW), and if so, to describe them. The description was qualitatively analysed using the Atlas-ti programme to find the themes that best describe the services. We also studied characteristics of OHS predicting a return-to-work policy.


RESULTS
Of the total sample of 969 occupational health units, 95% responded to the survey. Forty-one per cent reported offering services for facilitating RTW after sick leave. The service usually consisted of occupational physician examination of employees on sick leave for approximately 6 weeks. This was followed by a joint discussion between employee, physician and supervisor, which could result in work accommodation or a work trial period. There was a substantial variation, with only 10% mentioning a joint meeting and 13% mentioning a work trial period or work accommodation. Return-to-work policies were more frequently found in the OHS that served only a few employers, provided more group activities and collaborated more with employers and research institutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Less than half of Finnish OHS offer return-to-work services of which the contents show wide variation that is not in line with current scientific evidence. A guideline project for return-to-work practices is needed to fill the gap. More research is needed to best define monitoring and screening practices for workers on sick leave.
Kivistö
Sirkku
S
Work and Mental Health Team, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41aA, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland.
Verbeek
Jos H
JH
Hirvonen
Maria
M
Varonen
Helena
H
D004651:Employment; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011640:Public Policy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D018582:Sick Leave