Caseworkers Attitudes

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correlated with each other. ISF (2013b) found that a positive attitude

towards the rehabilitation programs was correlated with a positive attitude

towards the assessment instruments, Sassam and AM. Also, attitude

towards the SI rules was correlated with attitude towards fulfilling the

operational goals of the SIA, and also with greater confidence about the

definition of some key concepts of the sick-leave process. The correlation

between attitudes towards the rehabilitation programs and the SI rules was

relatively low. This may be because of the dual and perhaps contradictory

roles of the caseworkers, who are responsible for both investigating the

need for and coordinating any rehabilitation, and also monitoring working

ability and benefit entitlement. With the autonomy given, the caseworkers

could emphasize these two roles differently. A positive attitude towards

rehabilitation programs suggests that the caseworkers put more emphasis

on their role as a counselor with the aim of establishing a cooperative

relationship with the employee and the employer. On the other hand,

a positive attitude towards the SI rules signals that the caseworker

emphasizes a more demanding and less cooperative relationship with

the employee and the employer, and is more focused on maintaining the

integrity of the SI.

The empirical literature suggests that the attitude of the caseworker could

have implications for the expected return to work. Studies of the impact

of various rehabilitation programs offer no strong support for them

increasing return to work (Johansson et al, 2010; Hägglund et al, 2012).

Also, Engström et al (2012) showed that placing the assessment of the

need for rehabilitation by Sassam and AM earlier in the sick-leave process

extended sickness absence duration and the uptake of disability benefits.

Furthermore, research has shown that control and eligibility checks reduce

sickness absence (Hesselius et al, 2013; Johansson & Lindahl, 2012).

Hägglund (2012) concluded that eligibility checks at 90 and 180 days

increase return to work.

Hence, being pro rehabilitation suggests a reduced rate of return to work

because of more frequent rehabilitation and assessment initiatives. Also,

being positive towards the SI rules suggests a higher rate of return to work

because of more frequent eligibility checks and/or perhaps a more strict

interpretation of the SI regulations. To better understand the mechanisms

behind the impact on return to work, we study the impact on initiatives

taken during sick leave in terms of assessment initiatives and eligibility

checks.

3.2

Administrative data

Data from the survey are merged with information about the individuals

who started a full-time sick-leave episode between January 1, 2010 and

March 31, 2011. The SIA register database contains information about

all individuals´ episodes as SI recipients from 2000 and onwards. Besides

information on diagnosis and percentage on sick leave (full-time/part-

time), data also contain rich data on individual characteristics such as

gender, age, educational level, country of origin, marital status, historical

unemployment, sector, and local registration office. Data do not include

information on working status at the end of a sick-leave period. However,

since we restrict the analysis to those employed at the start of the sick

leave, not returning to work is probably a very uncommon event. In the

rest of the paper, we use the term “return to work” to refer to ending the

sickness absence episode.

Behncke et al (2010a) define caseworkers as either cooperative or non-cooperative.