Employee Perceptions About Factors Influencing Their Return to Work After a Sick-leave Due to Depression

Background: Depression is now recognized as one of the principal causes of work disability worldwide. Although a significant proportion of workers return to work (RTVV) following a sick leave due to depression, longer absences and potential relapses are frequent. Objective: The study's objective is to identify the subjective factors that facilitate or hinder RTW of individuals who are going through the RTW process after depression. Method: Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals who were on sick-leave due to depression, were conducted to investigate their perceptions regarding RTW. Results: Three major themes emerged from the analyses: The decisions around the time of RTW (e.g., agreement with the physician), the progressive return-to work and the implementation of RTW accommodations (e.g., functions, tasks), and the attitudes and behaviors of colleagues and immediate supervisors facilitating or hindering RTW (e.g., support received from the immediate supervisor and colleagues, discredit by people from the work environment). Conclusions: These results stress the importance of the decision-making process regarding the timing of RTW, the implementation of work accommodations, and the attitudes and behaviors of the actors in the organization. Future studies should more thoroughly investigate the factors influencing the employers' and immediate supervisors' decisions to grant work accommodations to returning employees after a sick leave due to depression.