TY - JOUR
T1 - Policy guidelines for effective inclusion and reintegration of people with chronic diseases in the workplace
T2 - national and european perspectives
AU - Vlachou, Anastasia
AU - Stavroussi, Panayiota
AU - Roka, Olga
AU - Vasilou, Evdokia
AU - Papadimitriou, Dimitra
AU - Scaratti, Chiara
AU - Kadyrbaeva, Asel
AU - Fheodoroff, Klemens
AU - Brecelj, Valentina
AU - Svestkova, Olga
AU - Tobiasz-Adamczyk, Beata
AU - Finnvold, Jon Erik
AU - Gruber, Sonja
AU - Leonardi, Matilde
PY - 2018/3/11
Y1 - 2018/3/11
N2 - The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among the European working age population, as well as the implications for the individual and societal level, underline the need for policy guidelines targeting the effective inclusion of persons with chronic diseases in the workplace. The aim of the present paper was to explore the perspectives of European and National-level stakeholders on existing strategies for work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases, and to provide policy guidelines. A highly-structured interview protocol was distributed to 58 National level stakeholders (policy makers, professionals and employers) from seven European countries. Additionally, 20 European organizations concerned with health-related issues and employment completed an online survey. The findings reveal that employment-related challenges remain largely unaddressed. Both national and European stakeholders considered the existing legislative frameworks inadequate and appraised the co-ordination for the implementation of employment re-integration policies as ineffective. Policies targeting at work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases at European and national level should focus on consistent cooperation among all key stakeholders, awareness raising to staff and management, dissemination of effective strategies, developing research and evaluation standards and establishing monitoring systems on inclusive labour markets.
AB - The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among the European working age population, as well as the implications for the individual and societal level, underline the need for policy guidelines targeting the effective inclusion of persons with chronic diseases in the workplace. The aim of the present paper was to explore the perspectives of European and National-level stakeholders on existing strategies for work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases, and to provide policy guidelines. A highly-structured interview protocol was distributed to 58 National level stakeholders (policy makers, professionals and employers) from seven European countries. Additionally, 20 European organizations concerned with health-related issues and employment completed an online survey. The findings reveal that employment-related challenges remain largely unaddressed. Both national and European stakeholders considered the existing legislative frameworks inadequate and appraised the co-ordination for the implementation of employment re-integration policies as ineffective. Policies targeting at work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases at European and national level should focus on consistent cooperation among all key stakeholders, awareness raising to staff and management, dissemination of effective strategies, developing research and evaluation standards and establishing monitoring systems on inclusive labour markets.
KW - Chronic diseases
KW - European stakeholders
KW - National stakeholders
KW - Perspectives
KW - Policy guidelines
KW - Work inclusion
KW - Work re-integration
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U2 - 10.3390/ijerph15030493
DO - 10.3390/ijerph15030493
M3 - Article
C2 - 29534484
AN - SCOPUS:85044089973
VL - 15
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 3
M1 - 493
ER -