The tremendous diversity of social security institutions has produced a broad range of experience which is used as a valuable learning resource for return-to-work policy and programming.
The return-to-work programme is supported by public policy, legislation, standards and other declarations. Knowledge of relevant instruments is essential to meeting reporting and accountability obligations.
Where legislation does not support effective return-to-work outcomes, statutory changes are advocated which will empower the institution to engage in return-to-work activities giving rise to effective outcomes.
The ability of an institution to begin, support, promote or better regulate return-to-work programmes, policy and procedures is strongly influenced and often regulated by its governing legislative framework.
Promotion and support of an effective return-to-work programme involves a broad range of individual and institutional stakeholders.
This usually includes but is not limited to the injured, ill or disabled person and their family, employer and employee representatives (social partners), colleagues, health-care professionals, community services, interfacing agencies, government departments, and other individually and jurisdictionally specific stakeholders.
It is essential that social security institutions engaged in the promotion, advocacy and support of effective return-to-work programmes include a broad range of institutional and individual stakeholders in this process.
In many jurisdictions around the world, social security institutions are responsible for the provision of financial support and services of “last resort” to persons with disabilities. More often than not, persons with disabilities arrive at this point after having exhausted many other economic support and service avenues, enduring a lengthy and arduous eligibility process with subsequent physical, psychosocial and economic exhaustion.
The following guidelines are organized in two parts:
Part A, Basic Return-to-work Conditions, Principles and Guidelines, provides guidance on identification of the stakeholders, the legal basis of the programme and the need to refer to international good practice. Another aspect addressed is how to influence the system as a social security institution.
Social security institutions around the world are most often engaged in one of three broad scopes of activity, as a provider of:
The focus of the ISSA Guidelines on Return to Work and Reintegration is on persons who are on sick leave from work, either on a short-term or long-term basis, and who retain an attachment to a specific employer. The guidelines are applicable regardless of whether the reason for the sick leave absence is occupational or non-occupational.
