Affiliations: [a] School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada | [b] School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: S.L. Saunders, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada. Tel.: +1 514 398 4400 ext 09253; Fax: +1 514 398 6360; E-mail:sara.saunders@mcgill.ca
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Effort is a concept that underlies programs assisting
people with work disability to re-enter the labour force. During re-entry,
attention is paid to the effort invested by the worker with an injury.
However, for those with chronic work disability, the motivation to return to
work (RTW) may be questioned by benefit service providers and healthcare
professionals. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to describe the efforts
made by people with long term work-disability to regain a foothold on the
labour market. METHODS: This phenomenological study explored the meaning of work
for people with long-term work disability and job loss. Twenty-seven
interviews were conducted with nine participants. A thematic analysis was
completed of the collected data. RESULTS: A key finding of this study is the variety and degree of
effort exerted by participants to regain employment, despite time away from
the workplace and system barriers. Effort was exerted to retain pre-accident
employment; to obtain new work following job loss; and, to remain in a new
job. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that if the RTW effort of people
with long-term work disability is not fully acknowledged or supported, this
population will remain unemployed where their strengths as competent,
experienced workers will continue to be wasted.
