Return-to-Work Experiences in Ontario Policing: Injured But Not Broken.
D Van Eerd, M Le Pouésard, B Yanar and 5 others
PMID 37735312WHAT IT FOUND
Police officers described return-to-work processes as designed for physical injuries, failing them when recovering from mental health conditions.
Stigma, lack of confidentiality, and inflexible accommodations delayed treatment and reintegration, with workers fearing career damage if they took time off.
Key findings
01Participants reported that return-to-work policies were built for physical injuries and did not accommodate the complexity or variable recovery timelines of psychological injuries.
02Stigma, specifically the label of being a 'broken toy', and fears about confidentiality and career advancement caused workers to delay seeking help or returning to work.
03Accommodation was difficult because smaller services lacked available positions, and sworn members often rejected desk roles as not being 'meaningful work'.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample from Ontario, which may not reflect practices in other jurisdictions or police services. Data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced participation and the nature of workplace interactions. Volunteers may have been more inclined to share negative or complex experiences, potentially skewing the findings toward problematic cases.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Research Program. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific interventions work. This study describes experiences and barriers; it does not test the effectiveness of any return-to-work program or clinical treatment.