Self-direction in return-to-work: Bottlenecks, facilitators and an intervention

The Dutch employers’ organisations MKB Nederland and VNO-NCW recently suggested a reduction of wage payments to absent employees from two years to one. It remains to be seen, though, whether this measure will result in an adequate resumption of work, if no investments are being made in improving the collaboration between absent employees and their employers. The results described in this dissertation indicate a strained relationship between absent employees and their employers as a result of divergent goals (employees: recuperation, employers: resumption of work) and mutual distrust. Furthermore, the results show that making investments in a better collaboration between absent employees and their employers is cost-effective.