Flex-ability - A key concept to promote occupational health in everyday life beyond sick leave

TL;DR

This study explores how individuals maintain or regain occupational health after sick leave, emphasizing the need for flexibility and adaptability in work and daily life.

Contribution

The study introduces the concept of 'flex-ability' as a novel framework for promoting occupational health beyond traditional sick leave approaches.

Findings

Returning to work after sick leave requires individuals to be open to change and adapt to new challenges.

Health-promotive organizations should consider individual needs more actively.

A broader societal view of work integrated into everyday life is necessary for better occupational health.

Abstract

Sick leave and ill health due to stress are significant concerns today and negatively affect the individual, the organisations, and the community. High demands, multitasking, and inexplicit boundaries between different occupations contribute to an explanation. However, research shows that more qualitative studies are needed to better understand this issue and how to promote health in the working population.

The study aims to explore participants’ experiences of maintaining or regaining occupational health in their everyday life, including paid work, several years after sick leave.

Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using inductive content analysis. The analysis resulted in one major theme and three categories describing the current experiences handling their everyday life and work situations.

The result showed that returning to work and maintaining occupational health after sick leave due to occupational ill health calls for “flex-ability”. The term describes that individuals need to be open to change and adapt to new challenges at work and in everyday life.

The findings highlight the importance of health-promotive organisations where the individual factor is more considered. Furthermore, a broader view of health-promotive work in society where work is included in everyday life, instead of divided into and outside of work, is needed.

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