Every year, more than 2 million workers leave the labor force because a medical condition affects their ability to work. If they could keep their jobs instead, they could preserve their livelihood, contribute to the productivity and tax base of the economy, and help lower federal and state spending on public assistance programs like Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicaid.
Today, Mathematica’s Center for Studying Disability Policy and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy convened a policy forum and live webinar featuring the leaders of the policy collaborative and their recommendations for helping people avoid work disability. Read more about this event. A recording of the forum will soon be available for those who were unable to attend.
For additional context about the imperative to prevent work disability, watch our video featuring occupational physician Dr. Jennifer Christian, and read Dr. Christian’s statement of principles for work disability prevention.The Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Policy Collaborative has also released new policy briefs and the full reports that each brief supports, highlighting this year’s policy recommendations.
2016 SAW/RTW Policy Work Group Recommendations
- Steps States Can Take to Help Workers Keep Their Jobs after Injury, Illness, or Disability
Policy brief
Report
Map infographic - Behavioral Interventions to Promote Job Retention After Injury or Illness
Policy brief
Report -
Helping Workers Who Develop Medical Problems Stay Employed: Expanding Washington’s COHE Program Beyond Workers’ Compensation
Policy brief
Report
