Work Disability

Work Disability Facts

• A 12-week injury-related absence from work, reduces the likelihood of a person ever returning to work by 50%.¹
• Family physicians’ medical curriculum does not include prevention and management of disability. ^2,3
• Worklessness negatively impacts an individual's physical and mental health.⁴

Below are a number of links to helpful tools and other resources and to documents with more information about preventing unnecessary work absences due to a variety of factors.

References: 
¹ACOEM Guideline (2006). Preventing needless disability by helping people stay employed. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 48, 972-987. 
²Black, C. (2008). Working for a healthier tomorrow. London: The Stationery Office. 
³University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Practice Post-Graduate Program. Overview of program: http://postgrad.familymed.ubc.ca/residency/program-overview/ retrieved December, 2012 
⁴Waddell, G., Burton, A. K., (2006). Is work good for your health and well-being? London, The Stationery Office.

Additional resource:

• Canadian Medical Association (2013). The treating physician's role in helping patients return to work after an illness or injury (update 2013). Ottawa.

Webinars:

• Work Disability: Feeling Disabled by Disability?: How to Better Support Your Patients’ Return to Work
• Work Disability: A Safe Return to Work for my Patient: Who Do I Talk to and What Should I Write
• View from the Frontline: Practical Tips for Disability Management