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Positive and negative consequences of sick leave for the individual, with special focus on part-time sick leave

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Uppsala, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden, leif.sieurin{at}medsci.uu.se

Malin Josephson

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Uppsala, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden

Eva Vingård

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Uppsala, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden

Aims: To describe the consequences of long-term sick leave (>28 days) on working situation, health and lifestyle among employees from the public sector in Sweden. Methods: Employees in four county councils and two municipalities on long term sick leave on 1 November 2005 (n = 1,128) answered a questionnaire in February 2006. The response rate was 71.7%. Eighty seven per cent were still on sick leave when the questionnaire was answered: 54% part time and 33% full time. Results: Reporting positive consequences was rare but reporting negative consequences, such as effects on the development of salary, the possibilities of pursuing a career or to change to another job were common. Sick leave seemed to lead to a considerable loss of zest for work, even if the respondents were back in work full time. Regardless of the negative consequences at work, 92% of those on part-time sick leave believed that the part-time sick leave was good for them even if many thought it had negative consequences for employer and colleagues. Conclusions: Long-term sick leave has negative consequences for the individual in work situations, even for those back at work full time. The development of salary and career seem to be most affected. The attitude towards part-time sick leave was positive and this result indicates that there is a potential for an increased degree of partial return to work in the group of people on long-term sick leave.

Key Words: Consequences • part-time sick leave • public sector • return to work • sickness absence • Sweden

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 37, No. 1, 50-56 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1403494808097171


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