Concerns about claiming, postclaim support, and return to work planning: the workplace's impact on return to work

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine how injured Australian workers perceived employer emotional (eg, empathy) and instrumental [eg, return-to-work (RTW) planning] support during the RTW process and examine associations between support and RTW. METHODS: Using data from the 2014 National Return to Work Survey of injured workers with a workers' compensation claim, multinomial regression models examined relationships between support and RTW. RESULTS: Receiving support and developing RTW plans were significantly associated with a greater likelihood of RTW. When controlled for one another in a single model, postclaim support had the strongest association with RTW, with RTW planning also significantly and positively associated with RTW. CONCLUSION: Provision of both emotional and instrumental support are important employer-led work disability management interventions. Research is required to develop strategies for increasing employer support to lead to improved RTW outcomes for injured workers