Identifiers
Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers
Too many workers leave the labour market permanently due to health problems or disability, and too few people with reduced work capacity manage to remain in employment. This is a social and economic tragedy common to virtually all OECD countries. It also raises an apparent paradox that needs explaining: Why is it that the average health status is improving, yet large numbers of people of working age are leaving the workforce to rely on long-term sickness and disability benefits? This report, the last in the OECD series Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers, synthesises the project’s findings and explores the possible factors behind the paradox described above. It highlights the roles of institutions and policies and concludes that higher expectations and better incentives for the main actors – workers, employers, doctors, public agencies and service providers – are crucial. Based on a review of good and bad practices across OECD countries, this report suggests a series of major reforms...
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Cited by 486 other policy documents
(335 of them are from other policy sources)
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S. Nickell
at London School of Economics and Political Science
On
page 99
All research cited by this document (explore the cited scholarly articles) (explore the cited policy documents)
The Quarterly Journal of Economics (Oxford University Press (OUP))
D. H. Autor et al. 2003
Autor, D. and M. Duggan (2003), “The Rise in the Disability Rolls and the Decline in Unemployment”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 118, No. 1, February, pp. 157-206. http://econ-www.mit.edu/files/568
On page 42
Regional Studies (Informa UK Limited)
Christina Beatty et al. 1996
Beatty, C. and S. Fothergill (1996), “Labour Market Adjustment in Areas of Chronic Industrial Decline: The Case of the UK Coalfields”, Regional Studies, Vol. 30, No. 7, pp. 627-640.
On page 42
Regional Studies (Informa UK Limited)
Christina Beatty et al. 2005
Beatty, C. and S. Fothergill (2005), “The Diversion from ‘Unemployment’ to ‘Sickness’ Across British Regions and Districts”, Regional Studies, Vol. 39, No. 7, pp. 837-854.
On page 42
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (BMJ)
J E Ferrie 2002
Ferrie, J.E., M.J. Shipley, S. Stansfeld and M. Marmot (2002), “Effects of Chronic Job Insecurity and Change in Job Security on Self-reported Health, Minor Psychiatric Morbidity, Physiological Measures and Health-related Behaviours in British Civil Servants: The Whitehall II Study”, Epidemiology and Community Health, Vol. 56, No. 6, pp. 450-454.
On page 42
Social Science & Medicine (Elsevier BV)
Jane E. Ferrie et al. 2005
Ferrie, J.E., M.J. Shipley, K. Newman, S.A. Stansfeld and M. Marmot (2005), “Self-reported Job Insecurity and Health in the Whitehall II Study: Potential Explanations of the Relationship”, Social Science and Medicine, Vol. 60, No. 7, pp. 1593-1602.
On page 43
Administrative Science Quarterly (JSTOR)
Robert A. Karasek 1979
Karasek, R. (1979), “Job Demands, Job Decision Latitude and Mental Strain: Implications for Job Redesign”, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 24, pp. 285-306.
On page 43
OECD (2006), Ageing and Employment policies: Live Longer, Work Longer, OECD Publishing, Paris. OECD (2007), OECD Employment Outlook, Chapter 3, OECD Publishing, Paris. OECD (2008), OECD Employment Outlook, Chapter 4, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 43
Journal of the European Economic Association (Oxford University Press (OUP))
Mari Rege et al. 2009
Rege, M., K. Telle and M. Votruba (2009), “The Effect of Plant Downsizing on Disability Pension Utilisation”, Journal of the European Economic Association, Vol. 7, No. 5, pp. 754-785.
On page 43
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (American Psychological Association (APA))
Johannes Siegrist 1996
Siegrist, J. (1996), “Adverse Health Effects of High-effort/Low-reward Conditions”, Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol. 1, pp. 27-41.
On page 43
The Quarterly Journal of Economics (Oxford University Press (OUP))
D. H. Autor et al. 2003
Autor, D. and M.G. Duggan (2003), “The Rise in the Disability Rolls and the Decline in Unemployment”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 118, No. 1, pp. 157-206.
On page 99
Journal of Human Resources (University of Wisconsin Press)
Kathleen Beegle et al. 2003
Begle, K. and A. Stock (2003), “The Labour Market Effects of Disability Discrimination Laws”, Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 38, pp. 806-859.
On page 99
Handbook of Labor Economics (Elsevier)
John Bound et al. 1999
Bound, J. and R. Burkhauser (1999), “Economic Analysis of Transfers Programs Targeted on People with Disabilities”, in O. Ashenfelter and D. Card (eds.), Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3, No. 1, Chapter 51, Elsevier, pp. 3417-3528.
On page 99
The Economic Journal (Oxford University Press (OUP))
Richard Disney et al. 1991
Disney, R. and S. Webb (1991), “Why Are there So Many Long-term Sick in Britain?”, The Economic Journal, Vol. 101, pp. 252-262.
On page 99
Gould, R. (2003), “Disability Pensions in Finland”, in C. Prinz (ed.), European Disability Pension Policies. 11 Country Trends 1970-2002, European Centre Vienna, Ashgate, Aldershot.
On page 99
National Bureau of Economic Research (National Bureau of Economic Research)
Christine Jolls et al. 2004
Jolls, C. and J.J. Prescott (2004), “Disaggregating Employment Protection; The Case of Disability Discrimination”, NBER Working Paper Serie, No. 10740, Cambridge, MA.
On page 100
OECD (2003), Transforming Disability into Ability, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 100
OECD (2006), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 1: Norway, Poland and Switzerland, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 100
OECD (2007), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 2: Australia, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 100
OECD (2008), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 3: Denmark, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 100
International Social Security Review (Wiley)
Christopher Prinz et al. 2009
Prinz, C. and D. Tompson (2009), “Sickness and Disability Programmes: What is Driving Policy Convergence?”, International Social Security Review, Vol. 62, No. 4, pp. 41-6.
On page 100
Family Practice (Oxford University Press (OUP))
Amaryllis Campbell et al. 2006
Moreover, in practice such decision-making varies considerably and unreliably across medical assessors (e.g. Hunt et al., 2002) and patient demand may be playing a significant role in shaping the medical decisions that determine entitlements (e.g. Campbell and Ogden, 2006).
On page 107
Campbell, A. and J. Ogden (2006), “Why Do Doctors Issue Sick Notes? An Experimental Questionnaire Study in Primary Care”, Family Practice, No. 23, pp. 125-130.
On page 126
Spine (Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health))
David G. Hunt et al. 2002
Moreover, in practice such decision-making varies considerably and unreliably across medical assessors (e.g. Hunt et al., 2002) and patient demand may be playing a significant role in shaping the medical decisions that determine entitlements (e.g. Campbell and Ogden, 2006).
On page 107
Hunt, D.G., O.A. Zuberbier et al. (2002), “Are Components of a Comprehensive Medical Assessment Predictive of Work Disability After an Episode of Occupational Low Back Trouble?”, Spine, Vol. 27, No. 23, pp. 2715-2719.
On page 126
OECD (2003), Transforming Disability into Ability, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 126
For example, by 2050, more than one-third of the population is projected to be over age 65 in Italy, Japan, Korea and Spain (OECD, 2006).
On page 26
Age-specific rates of annual new claims before and after Reform, in 2003 and 2005, show a huge 40-60% rise in the inflow rate for applicants in the age group 20-39 years (OECD, 2006).
On page 117
Even in Poland, which on paper operates the most stringent temporary benefit scheme, less than 10% of all reassessed payments are ceased, corresponding to 2.5% of the caseload in any given year (OECD, 2006).
On page 125
Switzerland and Canada are seeing similar trends but in this case they are being driven by the private insurance sector which is very important in both countries (OECD, 2006 and OECD, 2010).
On page 136
Several countries have introduced clearly-set regulations as to when exactly certain steps will have to be taken by the authorities, including assessment of rehabilitation needs and the setting up of a rehabilitation plan (OECD, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).
On page 158
The main focus of the 2004 Reform in Switzerland also was on earlier identification of health problems and earlier intervention if needed, in this case by the disability insurance, in an effort to reduce the inflow into disability benefit (OECD, 2006).
On page 159
OECD (2006), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 1: Norway, Poland and Switzerland, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 126
In particular, skillbiased technological changes, together with the emergence of new major trade partners in the global economy and the associated shifts in low-skilled activities away from the OECD countries, have had a negative effect on the employment opportunities of low-skilled workers (OECD, 2007).
On page 29
TRANSFORMING DISABILITY BENEFITS INTO AN EMPLOYMENT INSTRUMENT receive a waiting allowance set at the level of disability benefit but with availability requirements just like every other unemployed (OECD, 2007).
On page 114
The database includes individual information for every employee and information is automatically updated on a daily basis (OECD, 2007).
On page 143
However, the UK example suggests that merging the employment and benefit authorities has not only helped to streamline services for the clients, but also influenced subsequent Reform in benefits and employment services (OECD, 2007).
On page 150
GETTING THE RIGHT SERVICES TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME before they could access intensive re-employment services (OECD, 2007).
On page 156
Secondly, long-term unemployment increases the likelihood of a transfer to disability benefits; in the United Kingdom, for example, more than one in five of those people coming from unemployment onto disability benefits had been on unemployment benefits for two years or more (OECD, 2007).
On page 158
OECD (2007), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 2: Australia, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 126
OECD (2008), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 3: Denmark, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 126
OECD (2009), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Sweden: Will the Recent Reforms Make it?, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 126
Journal of Political Economy (University of Chicago Press)
Daron Acemoglu et al. 2001
For example, a number of empirical studies on the impact of anti-discrimination regulations in the United States have suggested that new legislation had resulted in lower employment rates for people with disability (e.g. DeLeire, 2000; Acemoglu and Angrist, 2001), even though the gradual fall in employment rates of people with disability since the mid-1990s cannot be causally linked to the introduction of such legislation (e.g. Begle and Stock, 2003).
On page 137
Acemoglu, D. and J.D. Angrist (2001), “Consequences of Employment Protection? The Case of Americans with Disabilities Act”, Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp. 915-950.
On page 145
Journal of Human Resources (University of Wisconsin Press)
Kathleen Beegle et al. 2003
Begle, K. and A. Stock (2003), “The Labour Market Effects of Disability Discrimination Laws”, Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 38, pp. 806-859.
On page 145
The Journal of Human Resources (JSTOR)
Thomas DeLeire 2000
For example, a number of empirical studies on the impact of anti-discrimination regulations in the United States have suggested that new legislation had resulted in lower employment rates for people with disability (e.g. DeLeire, 2000; Acemoglu and Angrist, 2001), even though the gradual fall in employment rates of people with disability since the mid-1990s cannot be causally linked to the introduction of such legislation (e.g. Begle and Stock, 2003).
On page 137
DeLeire, T. (2000), “The Wage and Employment Effects of the Americans with Disabilities Act”, Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 693-715.
On page 145
Journal of Labor Economics (University of Chicago Press)
Magnus Henrekson et al. 2004
ACTIVATING EMPLOYERS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS payment rates (e.g. Henrekson and Persson, 2004, Hesselius and Persson, 2007).
On page 135
Henrekson, M. and M. Persson (2004) “The Effects on Sick Leave of Changes in the Sickness Insurance System”, Journal of Labour Economics, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 87-113.
On page 146
SSRN Electronic Journal (Elsevier BV)
Brigitte Humer et al. 2021
Humer, B., J.P. Wuellrich and J. Zweimüller (2007), “Integrating Severely Disabled Individuals into the Labour Market: The Austrian Case”, IZA Discussion Paper, No. 2649, Bonn.
On page 146
Kangasharju, A. (2007), “Do Wage Subsidies Increase Employment in Subsidised Firms?”, Economica, Vol. 74, No. 293, pp. 51-67.
On page 146
OECD (2003), Transforming Disability into Ability, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 146
For example, by 2050, more than one-third of the population is projected to be over age 65 in Italy, Japan, Korea and Spain (OECD, 2006).
On page 26
Age-specific rates of annual new claims before and after Reform, in 2003 and 2005, show a huge 40-60% rise in the inflow rate for applicants in the age group 20-39 years (OECD, 2006).
On page 117
Even in Poland, which on paper operates the most stringent temporary benefit scheme, less than 10% of all reassessed payments are ceased, corresponding to 2.5% of the caseload in any given year (OECD, 2006).
On page 125
Switzerland and Canada are seeing similar trends but in this case they are being driven by the private insurance sector which is very important in both countries (OECD, 2006 and OECD, 2010).
On page 136
Several countries have introduced clearly-set regulations as to when exactly certain steps will have to be taken by the authorities, including assessment of rehabilitation needs and the setting up of a rehabilitation plan (OECD, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).
On page 158
The main focus of the 2004 Reform in Switzerland also was on earlier identification of health problems and earlier intervention if needed, in this case by the disability insurance, in an effort to reduce the inflow into disability benefit (OECD, 2006).
On page 159
OECD (2006), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 1: Norway, Poland and Switzerland, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 146
In particular, skillbiased technological changes, together with the emergence of new major trade partners in the global economy and the associated shifts in low-skilled activities away from the OECD countries, have had a negative effect on the employment opportunities of low-skilled workers (OECD, 2007).
On page 29
TRANSFORMING DISABILITY BENEFITS INTO AN EMPLOYMENT INSTRUMENT receive a waiting allowance set at the level of disability benefit but with availability requirements just like every other unemployed (OECD, 2007).
On page 114
The database includes individual information for every employee and information is automatically updated on a daily basis (OECD, 2007).
On page 143
However, the UK example suggests that merging the employment and benefit authorities has not only helped to streamline services for the clients, but also influenced subsequent Reform in benefits and employment services (OECD, 2007).
On page 150
GETTING THE RIGHT SERVICES TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME before they could access intensive re-employment services (OECD, 2007).
On page 156
Secondly, long-term unemployment increases the likelihood of a transfer to disability benefits; in the United Kingdom, for example, more than one in five of those people coming from unemployment onto disability benefits had been on unemployment benefits for two years or more (OECD, 2007).
On page 158
OECD (2007), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 2: Australia, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom, OECD publishing, Paris.
On page 146
OECD (2008), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 3: Denmark, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 146
OECD (2009), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Sweden: Will the Recent Reforms Make it?, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 146
Journal of Management (SAGE Publications)
Bennett J. Tepper 2007
This includes making employers aware of the extent to which their management practices affect the health of workers and their ability to remain attached to the labour market despite an illness (e.g. Tepper, 2007; Fjell et al., 2007).
On page 136
Tepper, B.J. (2007), “Abusive Supervision in Work Organizations: Review, Synthesis, and Research Agenda”, Journal of Management, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 261-289.
On page 146
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal (American Psychological Association (APA))
Robert E. Drake et al. 2008
There is unequivocal evidence on the effectiveness of supported employment from a series of randomised controlled trials around the OECD, as summarised e.g. in Drake and Bond (2008).
On page 161
Drake and Bond (2008) is a Meta analysis of 11 randomised controlled trials from various states in the United States, Canada and Australia.
On page 166
Drake, R. and G. Bond (2008), “Supported Employment: 1998-2008”, Guest Editorial in the Special Issue on the 10th Anniversary on Supported Employment, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 274-276.
On page 166
For example, by 2050, more than one-third of the population is projected to be over age 65 in Italy, Japan, Korea and Spain (OECD, 2006).
On page 26
Age-specific rates of annual new claims before and after Reform, in 2003 and 2005, show a huge 40-60% rise in the inflow rate for applicants in the age group 20-39 years (OECD, 2006).
On page 117
Even in Poland, which on paper operates the most stringent temporary benefit scheme, less than 10% of all reassessed payments are ceased, corresponding to 2.5% of the caseload in any given year (OECD, 2006).
On page 125
Switzerland and Canada are seeing similar trends but in this case they are being driven by the private insurance sector which is very important in both countries (OECD, 2006 and OECD, 2010).
On page 136
Several countries have introduced clearly-set regulations as to when exactly certain steps will have to be taken by the authorities, including assessment of rehabilitation needs and the setting up of a rehabilitation plan (OECD, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).
On page 158
The main focus of the 2004 Reform in Switzerland also was on earlier identification of health problems and earlier intervention if needed, in this case by the disability insurance, in an effort to reduce the inflow into disability benefit (OECD, 2006).
On page 159
OECD (2006), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 1: Norway, Poland and Switzerland, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 167
In particular, skillbiased technological changes, together with the emergence of new major trade partners in the global economy and the associated shifts in low-skilled activities away from the OECD countries, have had a negative effect on the employment opportunities of low-skilled workers (OECD, 2007).
On page 29
TRANSFORMING DISABILITY BENEFITS INTO AN EMPLOYMENT INSTRUMENT receive a waiting allowance set at the level of disability benefit but with availability requirements just like every other unemployed (OECD, 2007).
On page 114
The database includes individual information for every employee and information is automatically updated on a daily basis (OECD, 2007).
On page 143
However, the UK example suggests that merging the employment and benefit authorities has not only helped to streamline services for the clients, but also influenced subsequent Reform in benefits and employment services (OECD, 2007).
On page 150
GETTING THE RIGHT SERVICES TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME before they could access intensive re-employment services (OECD, 2007).
On page 156
Secondly, long-term unemployment increases the likelihood of a transfer to disability benefits; in the United Kingdom, for example, more than one in five of those people coming from unemployment onto disability benefits had been on unemployment benefits for two years or more (OECD, 2007).
On page 158
OECD (2007), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 2: Australia, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 167
OECD (2008), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 3: Denmark, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 167
OECD (2009), Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers. Sweden: Will the Recent Reforms Make it?, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 167
OECD (2009a), Measuring Government Activity, OECD Publishing, Paris.
On page 167
European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
Several countries have introduced clearly-set regulations as to when exactly certain steps will have to be taken by the authorities, including assessment of rehabilitation needs and the setting up of a rehabilitation plan (OECD, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).
On page 158
Zaidi, A. (2009), “Welfare-to-Work Programmes in the UK and Lessons for Other Countries”, Policy Brief October 2009, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna.
On page 167