"I'm pulling through because of you": injured workers' perspective of workplace factors supporting return to work under the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board scheme.
Ian Lewis, Jonathan Houdmont
PMID 38560027WHAT IT FOUND
Injured workers who sustained return to work described pushing through pain and fatigue because they had no choice.
They valued supervisors who checked in, trusted their pace, and modified duties, while feeling abandoned by managers who ignored their struggles.
Key findings
01Workers reported returning to work while still experiencing pain, fear of re-injury, and emotional distress, often feeling they had no choice but to work despite low personal resources.
02Supervisor support was pivotal, specifically when managers demonstrated regard through regular check-ins, validated the worker's experience, and trusted them to manage their own workload and pace.
03Modified work was rarely a standalone success; it depended heavily on supervisor and co-worker support to be effective, with most workers who found modifications helpful also reporting strong interpersonal support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only included workers who had successfully returned to work, excluding those who did not, so it cannot identify factors that contributed to failed returns. The response rate was very low (5.6%), which may introduce selection bias. The sample was heavily skewed toward physical injuries (90%), with only 7 participants reporting psychological injuries, limiting conclusions for mental health claims. Data was collected via open-ended survey questions rather than in-depth interviews, potentially missing nuanced contextual factors. The study could not account for all factors influencing return to work, such as organizational culture or unionization status.
Declared interests
The study was conducted in cooperation with the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (SWCB), which identified and invited eligible individuals. The primary researcher has a background as an occupational therapist working with insured individuals.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the positive impact of supervisor support as evidence that a specific training program for managers will improve return-to-work rates. This is a qualitative description of worker perceptions, not a trial of an intervention.