Employment and Disability: Back to Work Strategies

Abstract

[Taken from Foreword] The issue of how people with chronic illnesses become excluded from the workplace is a complex one. Access to work is associated with higher levels of income, autonomy, health and well-being, and social networking. Without targeted measures to address the problem, chronic illness greatly inhibits employment possibilities, resulting in consequent costs for the individual and family, the workplace and for society as a whole. Yet, in most EU Member States, the numbers of people receiving disability benefits or leaving work permanently for health reasons are similar to, or indeed exceed, the numbers of people unemployed for other reasons. This report addresses this knowledge gap by gathering information on relevant initiatives in this area in seven Member States. It proposes a new model for understanding the nature of the problem; develops an assessment tool for new initiatives in the area; and makes recommendations on how best to promote social inclusion for people with chronic illnesses.