Affiliations: Department of Health Sciences, Mid-Sweden University,
Östersund, Sweden | Section of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of
Public Health Sciences, Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Karolinska
Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Sven-Uno Marnetoft, Department of
Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, SE-831 25 Östersund, Sweden. Tel.:
+4663165748; E-mail: svenuno.marnetoft@miun.se
Abstract: Sick leave has negative economic consequences for companies. The aim
of this study was to implement the model Organizational Rehabilitation in two
departments at an industrial company in the county of Jämtland, Sweden, to
see if it was possible to reduce the costs due to sick leave. The
rehabilitation model consisted of three steps and combined economy and
productivity with a good psychosocial work environment, measuring the result in
costs. Step 1 consisted of a problem inventory among all co-workers, step 2
semi structured interviews with all co-workers regarding how they experience
their work environment and step 3 individual agreements regarding
rehabilitation interventions, i.e. interventions where the individual's
specific needs and wishes outlined the foundation for rehabilitation measures
with the objective of increasing work capacity. The costs were measured at the
start and end of the project. The study showed that it is indeed possible to
reduce both sick leave and costs. During the study, the organization reduced
current sick leave from 12% (2003) to 3% (Nov. 2004) and the costs per
employee from €1 860 per month (2003) to
€440 per month (Nov. 2004). This will make an
estimated saving for 2005 of €470 000. It
should be noted that the study is small and should not be generalized, but may
be seen as a positive indication regarding the model organizational
rehabilitation. Further research is needed.
Keywords: Sick leave, vocational rehabilitation, work environment
