title: Exploring extensions to working life: job lock and predictors of decreasing work function in older workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Job lock, one form of restricted job mobility that often prevents older workers from retiring, is linked to existing health and work place problems. This study explored (i) the rate of change in work limitation for job locked and non-job locked older workers and (ii) the factors associated with these changes over a 12-month period following a work injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational cohort study of adults aged  ≥55 years. Data were collected using self-completed questionnaires. Individual growth modelling was used to examine the pre- and post- injury influences on work limitation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Work limitation was greater in the job locked older workers pre-injury. Both job-locked and non-job locked respondents had initial post-injury decreases in work limitations, suggesting a positive impact of temporary post-injury accommodations. However, both groups had increases in work limitations over time, but the increases were greater in the non-job locked group. In those with job lock, return to work problems were associated with increases in work limitations; in those without job lock, greater increases were associated only with low education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that job accommodations may be important in moderating increasing work limitation in job-locked older workers. Results support prior findings that job-locked older workers have unique characteristics, perhaps requiring more tailored interventions to maintain them in the workforce.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK. r.wilkie@cphc.keele.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilkie
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pransky
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012179:Retirement; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation