Long-term sickness absence – working procedures and collaboration of human resources and occupational health care: An action research
Saikko, Sanna (2020)
Saikko, Sanna
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202004094822
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202004094822
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of the Thesis was to develop and structure working procedures and collaboration of a social and health care district’s (SHCD) human resources department (HR) and an occupational health care corporation (OHC) related to long-term sickness absence (LTSA) and return to work (RTW) processes. At baseline the stakeholders’ wish for the Thesis collaboration was to strengthen and structure their collaboration related to LTSA and RTW processes. In addition, there was stakeholders disclosed need to have a concrete tool, e.g. checklist, to be developed to support their evaluation of employees within LTSA and RTW processes. Furthermore, there were expectations to clarify and update implementation of the processes of LTSA and RTW. The stakeholders participating the Thesis collaboration were a work ability coordinator (WAC) of the HR of the SHCD and an occupational health nurse (OHN) of the OHC.
The Thesis process was implemented as an action research using qualitative approach. Implementation of the research occurred in accordance with plan, action, observation and reflection phases of an action research cycle. The reflection phases actualized as three separate collaboration meetings in dialog with the stakeholders. The pragmatic philosophy of science served as the philosophical framework of the action research. It supported to solve challenges emerging from practice and to conduct critical evaluation and thinking of processes and actions occurred during the action research.
A literature review was conducted to support the theoretical viewpoint of the action research. The action research engrossed to the topics of management and policies of LTSA and RTW, and the most common causes of LTSA, musculoskeletal problems, mental health issues and psychosocial causes.
As an outcome the action research for its part improved the collaboration of the stakeholders and served as a good starting point for further strengthening of the collaboration related to LTSA and RTW processes. Additionally, as an outcome actualized design of the checklists for WAC and team of OHNs to structure evaluation of employees’ in LTSA and RTW processes. Furthermore, process descriptions of collaboration of the stakeholder organisations and employee’s process progression related to LTSA and RTW were produced to clarify and update processes of LTSA and RTW.
In the future, a research from viewpoint of employees within LTSA or RTW processes, or ones in a risk, or research related to aims of improving wellbeing as prevention and reduction of LTSA in practice would be interesting and important to implement.
The Thesis process was implemented as an action research using qualitative approach. Implementation of the research occurred in accordance with plan, action, observation and reflection phases of an action research cycle. The reflection phases actualized as three separate collaboration meetings in dialog with the stakeholders. The pragmatic philosophy of science served as the philosophical framework of the action research. It supported to solve challenges emerging from practice and to conduct critical evaluation and thinking of processes and actions occurred during the action research.
A literature review was conducted to support the theoretical viewpoint of the action research. The action research engrossed to the topics of management and policies of LTSA and RTW, and the most common causes of LTSA, musculoskeletal problems, mental health issues and psychosocial causes.
As an outcome the action research for its part improved the collaboration of the stakeholders and served as a good starting point for further strengthening of the collaboration related to LTSA and RTW processes. Additionally, as an outcome actualized design of the checklists for WAC and team of OHNs to structure evaluation of employees’ in LTSA and RTW processes. Furthermore, process descriptions of collaboration of the stakeholder organisations and employee’s process progression related to LTSA and RTW were produced to clarify and update processes of LTSA and RTW.
In the future, a research from viewpoint of employees within LTSA or RTW processes, or ones in a risk, or research related to aims of improving wellbeing as prevention and reduction of LTSA in practice would be interesting and important to implement.