Affiliations: [a] Terveystalo, Occupational Healthcare, Vantaa, Finland
| [b] Faculty on Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| [c] Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Anne Lamminpää, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, PO BOX 20 (Tukholmankatu 8B) 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: anne.lamminpaa@fimnet.fi.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Work ability meetings (WAM) are an essential and common tool of disability management in occupational health services in Finland. Meetings are held between an employee, a supervisor, and an occupational physician (OP). The aim is mainly to support work ability. OBJECTIVES:To describe challenges and resolutions in the meetings as described by OPs. METHODS:An internet survey was emailed to the members (n = 1304) of the Finnish Society of Occupational Health Physicians in August 2014. We asked physicians to describe those WAMs they had attended, especially challenges and resolutions concerning WAM. RESULTS:A total of 302 (23%) OPs responded to the survey. Most severe of the challenges were personal conflicts and a lack of confidence between the parties at the workplace. Also, the participants’ views may differ about the purpose and goal of the meeting. The respondents noted that the employer might be unable to organize modified work for disabled employees. As a resolution, OPs need to prepare well and maintain their professional and neutral role in WAMs in all cases. OPs also mentioned the need for training in insurance medicine and rehabilitation as well as skills as a mediator. CONCLUSIONS:WAM is a potential tool for return to work and disability management in collaboration between employees, employers, and occupational health when all the participants reach a common goal and become aware of their role in the process. OPs need to recognize possible conflicting interests and contact each party before WAM. Keeping confidentiality in WAMs is a crucial matter.
Keywords: Cooperation within the workplace, occupational health, communication, return to work, supervisor, negotiation
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230331
Journal: Work, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 1425-1432, 2024
