Effect and Process Evaluation of the SME Tool

Web-based Intervention Supporting Employers of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises During the Return to Work of Employees on Long-term Sick-leave: Design of a Randomised Controlled Trial

A web-based tool has been developed to help small and medium-sized businesses support employees returning to work after sick-leave. A six-month trial is conducted, randomly assigning employer-employee dyads to either use the tool or receive standard care. The primary aim is to evaluate its impact on employee satisfaction with return-to-work support.

Inclusion Criteria:

Employees at study enrolment should:

• be of working age (18-65 years);
• have a fixed or temporary employment contract at a SME (≤ 250 employees), with a minimum of 6 months remaining in their contract;
• be currently sick-listed or partially sick-listed (≤8 weeks), with a risk of long-term absenteeism, based on the likelihood of the duration of sickness absence exceeding two months as assessed by their occupational physician;
• be able to understand and read Dutch sufficiently, in order to complete the questionnaires.

The employer of the participating employee will be included. At time of study entry, the employer should be:

• an employer, supervisor, (case)manager or HR manager of a SME (≤ 250 employees). In this study, the employer is appointed by the employee and refers to the person who is the direct supervisor, in direct contact with the employee, and thus the person who offers the RTW support to the employee;
• able to understand and read Dutch sufficiently, in order to use the intervention and complete the questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not have a colleague who is already participating in the study.