The return-to-work field is complex and involves many stakeholders, including the social security institution, other government agencies, employers, trade union organizations, health-care professionals, service providers and people whose jobs are in jeopardy as a result of an injury, illness, or acute, long-term or chronic health condition. Those responsible for developing and administering a return-to-work programme require specific competencies, encompassing a wide range of knowledge and skills, in order to undertake all necessary activities to ensure successful job retention and return-to-work outcomes, while working within their own jurisdictional legal framework. Therefore, it is important for social security institutions to promote the professionalization of those responsible for return-to-work policy and programmes – within their own institution, in employer and trade union organizations, and as service providers – to ensure that people who acquire a disability or health condition receive high quality return-to-work services.