Employer perspectives concerning the self-management support needs of workers with long-term health conditions. Issue 4 (22nd June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hemming, Sally; McDermott, Hilary; Munir, Fehmidah; Burton, Kim
• Is Part Of: International journal of workplace health management. Volume 14:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 440
• Page End: 458
• Publication Date: 2021-06-22
• Subjects: Self-efficacy -- Employers -- Self-management; Industrial hygiene -- Periodicals; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Electronic journal; 658.38205
• DOI: 10.1108/IJWHM-02-2021-0030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1753-8351

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: Long-term health conditions are a significant occupational and global burden and can undermine people's ability to work. Workplace support for self-management of long-term conditions has the potential to minimise adverse work effects, by enhancing health and work outcomes. No data exist about employers' views concerning supporting workers with long-term conditions to self-manage. Design/methodology/approach: The exploration of employers' views involved recruiting 15 participants with responsibilities for workplace health, well-being and safety responsibilities, who participated in a semi-structured interview about self-management and support. Data were analysed using a qualitative six-stage thematic analysis technique. Findings: Self-management support is not purposely provided to workers with long-term conditions. Support in any form rests on workers disclosing a condition and on their relationship with their line-manager. While employers have considerable control over people's ability to self-manage, they consider that workers are responsible for self-management at work. Stigma, work demands and line-manager behaviours are potential obstacles to workers' self-management and support. Practical implications: Workplace discussions about self-managing long-term conditions at work should be encouraged and opened up, to improve health and work outcomes and aligned with return-to-work and rehabilitation approaches. A wider biopsychosocial culture could help ensure workplaces are regarded as settings in which long-term conditions can be self-managed. Originality/value: This study highlights that employer self-management support is not provided to workers with long-term conditions in a purposeful way. Workplace support depends on an employer knowing what needs to be supported which, in turn, depends on aspects of disclosure, stigma, work demands and line management.