Work-related illness in Great Britain

Can sickness absence be reduced by stress reduction programs: on the effectiveness of two approaches

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two brief preventive stress reduction programs--a cognitive focused program and a combined intervention of physical exercise and relaxation--on sickness absence in stressed and non-stressed employees working in various jobs in a telecom company.

METHODS

The study was designed as an a priori randomized trial and the follow-up period for sickness absence was 1 year. Sickness absence data of 242 employees were analyzed with respect to spells of sickness (frequency, incidence rate), days (length, duration) and time between intervention and first subsequent absent spell.

RESULTS

For stressed employees this study suggests that the illness burden represented by absenteeism is not affected by the interventions. There is no substantial difference in effectiveness between the cognitive and physical interventions. However, in comparison with the physical intervention the cognitive intervention decreases the period between the intervention and the first recurrence of a sick leave period with 144 days (marginal significant).

CONCLUSION

The illness burden represented by absenteeism is effected in detail but not substantially by the interventions.

Organizational climate, perceived work-related symptoms and sickness absence: a population-based survey

Very few reports have been published on organizational climate, health, and sickness absence in a representative sample of the entire workforce. The aim of this study was to determine how the perceived organizational climate of a workplace is related with work-related symptoms and sickness absence and how these factors vary according to sociodemographic and work-related characteristics. Data were collected in computer-assisted telephone interviews of a random sample of 4209 currently employed Finns drawn from the population register. A tense and prejudiced climate was associated with a higher risk of work-related symptoms than a relaxed and supportive climate (odds ratio [OR] 3.0 (95% CI = 2.4-3.7). The corresponding ORs were 4.3 (95% CI = 3.3-5.6) for psychological symptoms, 1.6 (95% CI = 1.2-2.0) for musculoskeletal symptoms, and 1.6 (95% CI = 1.3-2.1) for more than the average number of sick-leave days. Part of the impact of organizational climate on sickness absence is not caused by an increase in work-related symptoms. Thus, organizational climate seems not only to correspond with organizational practices and leadership but also occupational health. Organizational climate could be used as a research tool in attempts to reduce work-related ill health and sickness absenteeism.

Work design and management--the older worker

It will soon be important to retain older workers in the workforce for longer and to ensure they are both healthy and productive. This paper argues, on theoretical and empirical grounds, that in doing so it is important to consider the role of work design and management. This is an under-researched area of work and organizational psychology. Based on a review of the available evidence and on a consideration of the methodological challenges involved, it is proposed that a future research agenda should (1) establish life span models of work design and management as opposed to "age-free" models; (2) place more emphasis on contextual research, and less emphasis on broad-brush, epidemiological models; and (3) embark on more evaluated workplace interventions, and less on cross-sectional studies.