The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the influence of the adequacy of employer accommodations of health impairments in predicting permanent separation from the employment relationship in a cohort of workers disabled by a work-related injury or illness. METHODS: The study used data from a retrospe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
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| Online Access: |
https://www.sjweh.fi/article/4149
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| _version_ | 1797242600411889664 |
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| author | Cameron A Mustard Christa Orchard Kathleen G Dobson Nancy Carnide Peter M Smith |
| author_facet | Cameron A Mustard Christa Orchard Kathleen G Dobson Nancy Carnide Peter M Smith |
| author_sort | Cameron A Mustard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the influence of the adequacy of employer accommodations of health impairments in predicting permanent separation from the employment relationship in a cohort of workers disabled by a work-related injury or illness. METHODS: The study used data from a retrospective, observational cohort of 1793 Ontario workers who participated in an interviewer-administered survey 18 months following a disabling injury or illness. The relative risks (RR) of a permanent employment separation associated with inadequate employer accommodations were estimated using inverse probability of treatment weights to reduce confounding. RESULTS: Over the 18-month follow-up, the incidence of permanent separation was 30.1/100, with 49.2% of separations related to health status. Approximately 51% of participants experiencing a separation were exposed to inadequate workplace accommodations, compared to 27% of participants in continuing employment. The propensity score adjusted RR of a health-related separation associated with inadequate accommodation was substantial [RR 2.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.20–3.73], greater than the RR of separations not related to health (RR 1.68; 95% CI 1.38–2.21). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of permanent separation in this cohort of Ontario labor force participants was approximately two times more frequent than would be expected. The adequacy of employer accommodation was a strong determinant of the risk of permanent separation. These findings emphasize the potential for strengthened workplace accommodation practices in this setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:41:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33fab35c3fde46488f95ef91caa21c33 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0355-3140 1795-990X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:41:48Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-33fab35c3fde46488f95ef91caa21c332024-03-27T11:01:37ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2024-04-0150320821710.5271/sjweh.41494149The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illnessCameron A Mustard0Christa OrchardKathleen G DobsonNancy CarnidePeter M SmithInstitute for Work & Health, 400 University Ave, Suite 1800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1S5.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the influence of the adequacy of employer accommodations of health impairments in predicting permanent separation from the employment relationship in a cohort of workers disabled by a work-related injury or illness. METHODS: The study used data from a retrospective, observational cohort of 1793 Ontario workers who participated in an interviewer-administered survey 18 months following a disabling injury or illness. The relative risks (RR) of a permanent employment separation associated with inadequate employer accommodations were estimated using inverse probability of treatment weights to reduce confounding. RESULTS: Over the 18-month follow-up, the incidence of permanent separation was 30.1/100, with 49.2% of separations related to health status. Approximately 51% of participants experiencing a separation were exposed to inadequate workplace accommodations, compared to 27% of participants in continuing employment. The propensity score adjusted RR of a health-related separation associated with inadequate accommodation was substantial [RR 2.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.20–3.73], greater than the RR of separations not related to health (RR 1.68; 95% CI 1.38–2.21). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of permanent separation in this cohort of Ontario labor force participants was approximately two times more frequent than would be expected. The adequacy of employer accommodation was a strong determinant of the risk of permanent separation. These findings emphasize the potential for strengthened workplace accommodation practices in this setting. https://www.sjweh.fi/article/4149 cohort studydisabilitywork injuryworkplace accommodationemployment separationwork illnesspermanent employment separation |
| spellingShingle | Cameron A Mustard Christa Orchard Kathleen G Dobson Nancy Carnide Peter M Smith The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health cohort study disability work injury workplace accommodation employment separation work illness permanent employment separation |
| title | The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness |
| title_full | The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness |
| title_fullStr | The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness |
| title_short | The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness |
| title_sort | adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness |
| topic | cohort study disability work injury workplace accommodation employment separation work illness permanent employment separation |
| url |
https://www.sjweh.fi/article/4149
|
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