title: Work reintegration after long-term sick leave: domains of influence on co-workers' ability to be supportive.
abstract: The purpose of the study is to identify domains of influence on co-workers' ability to be supportive of returning worker during the work reintegration (WR) process.
  
  
  
  An ethnographic study design was chosen involving fieldwork at four different workplaces, at an emergency care service, a waste disposal company and at two nursing homes. Qualitative methods for inquiry were used including participant observation, individual- and group interviews of 30 participants. Data were coded and analysed according to a grounded theory approach.
  
  
  
  Four themes were identified related to domains of influence on co-workers' ability to be supportive of returning worker during the WR process: (1) organisation of work and level of interaction; (2) disruption of work routines, (3) relationship with returning worker and (4) attitudes towards sick leave.
  
  
  
  The WR process after long-term sick leave is not only influenced by the WR's arrangements made, but also by the co-workers' responses to the process. Work arrangements not only affect the returning worker's ability to return-to-work (RTW) successfully, but also the co-workers' ability to be supportive and their ability to take active part in the process. Implications for Rehabilitation The process of WR after long-term sick leave involves interaction with co-workers. Domains of influence is in the co-workers' perspective influencing their ability to be supportive during reintegration of a returning worker. Future WR management could benefit from integrating the conditions for co-worker support. We encourage co-workers to be involved in the RTW planning, monitoring and evaluation with particular focus on how the WR arrangements are influencing their work and their ability to be supportive.
authors.affiliation: a Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Rehabilitation Center Marselisborg , Aarhus C , Denmark ;|b Department of Public Health , Section of Social Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aarhus University , Aarhus , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Kirsten Schultz
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: a Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Rehabilitation Center Marselisborg , Aarhus C , Denmark ;|b Department of Public Health , Section of Social Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aarhus University , Aarhus , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labriola
authors.affiliation: a Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Rehabilitation Center Marselisborg , Aarhus C , Denmark ;|b Department of Public Health , Section of Social Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aarhus University , Aarhus , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Claus Vinther
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: a Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Rehabilitation Center Marselisborg , Aarhus C , Denmark ;|c Unit for Health Promotion Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark , Esbjerg , Denmark.
authors.forename: Eva Ladekjær
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001290:Attitude; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D062707:Return to Work; D018582:Sick Leave; D012944:Social Support; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Co-workers; field work; return to work; sickness absence; work reintegration