title: Is work organisation associated with work status 3 months after injury? Results from a case-control study of New Zealand workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little empirical examination of the relationship between work organisational factors and return to work following injury has been undertaken despite the growing recognition of examining broader multi-dimensional contexts for recovery following injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore relationships between pre-injury work organisational factors and work status (working/work absent) 3-month after injury among people employed prior to injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases (work absent) and controls (working), selected from a larger study of injury outcomes according to reported work status 3-month after injury, completed a postal questionnaire. Work organisational factors were compared between cases and controls using univariate and multivariable analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twelve participants completed the questionnaire (44 cases; 68 controls). Of 11 work organisation factors examined, organisational size was the only explanatory variable significantly associated with work status in the multivariable model. Higher odds of work absence were found in small (< 50 employees) (OR 5.6) and large (> 500 employees) (OR 7.2) workplaces, compared with medium-sized (50-500 employees) organisations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variations in post-injury work patterns among those working pre-injury may be partly explained by organisation size. Future research examining work status following injury should examine the influence of work organisational factors in larger studies.
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rebbecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lilley
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.|School of Health and Social Services, College of Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derrett
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Return to work; organisation size; rehabilitation