title: An empowerment model of workplace support following disclosure, for people with MS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vocational interventions aimed at increasing job retention for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are reliant upon a partnership with a supportive work environment. A better understanding of the types of psychosocial support that are most conducive to retaining employees' sense of work-efficacy will enhance the success of interventions aimed at reducing workplace barriers to job maintenance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to identify the types of psychosocial support that people with MS require post-disclosure, in order to maintain their employment status. In particular, we examined the roles of psychological safety and work-efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed 40 employees with MS either individually (n = 25) or within three focus groups (n = 15). These interviews were audio-taped and the content analysed, using an inductive thematic approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes to emerge in organisational responses to disclosure were: a focus on ability (leading to enhanced perceptions of psychological safety and higher work-efficacy) and on disability (leading to diminished psychological safety and reduced perceptions of work-efficacy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Organisational responses to disclosure demonstrating trust and inclusive decision making, and focussing on employee abilities, enhance perceptions of psychological safety at work. This increases the likelihood that employees with MS will retain their sense of work-efficacy and reduce their intentions to leave.
authors.affiliation: Monash University, VIC, Australia Andrea.Kirk-Brown@monash.edu.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kirk-Brown
authors.affiliation: Monash University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D030881:Disclosure; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D016832:Employment, Supported; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disability; disclosure; employment; employment retention; multiple sclerosis; psychological safety; work efficacy; workplace