Effectiveness of legislative changes obligating notification of prolonged sickness absence and assessment of remaining work ability on return to work and work participation: a natural experiment in Finland - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Effectiveness of legislative changes obligating notification of prolonged sickness absence and assessment of remaining work ability on return to work and work participation: a natural experiment in Finland

Authors: Halonen JI, Solovieva S, Pentti J, Kivimaki M, Vahtera J, Viikari-Juntura E

Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP

Publication year: 2016

Journal: Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Journal name in source: OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE

Journal acronym: OCCUP ENVIRON MED

Volume: 73

Issue: 1

First page : 42

Last page: 50

Number of pages: 9

ISSN: 1351-0711

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2015-103131

Abstract

Conclusions Our findings suggest that the legislative changes, obligating early notification of prolonged sickness absences as well as assessment of remaining work ability and possibilities to continue working, may enhance sustainable return to work in the short term. Other measures will be needed to enhance work participation, especially in the long term.