ABSTRACT

Objectives: To understand the experience of employers of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who have received comprehensive vocational rehabilitation (VR), the factors involved in supporting an individual with TBI to return to work (RTW), and the support needs of employers. Methods: 12 employers completed semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. Results: Five main themes were identified: challenges and impact on employer, managing employee post-injury changes, looking after employee wellbeing, managing conflicting emotions, and utilizing sources of support. Although employers received support with operational challenges, findings suggest they were not prepared for the emotional journey. While they struggled to support employees through the difficult process of realizing they could no longer perform at their pre-injury level, employers strove to find appropriate roles and ensure wellbeing for their injured employees. Despite employers' endeavours, they felt this process was demoralizing for some employees. Conclusions: Advising employers on operational as well as emotional support needs of both employees and employers is an ongoing challenge for VR providers. Although unsupportive employers were not well-represented in this sample, the study highlights the challenges faced and strategies used by employers who have a strong personal investment in the successful RTW of their employees.

摘要

目标：了解接受综合职业康复 (VR) 的创伤性脑损伤 (TBI) 患者的雇主的经验、支持 TBI 患者重返工作岗位 (RTW) 所涉及的因素以及雇主的支持需求. 方法：12 名雇主完成了半结构式访谈，对访谈进行了记录、转录和主题分析。结果：确定了五个主要主题：挑战和对雇主的影响、管理员工受伤后的变化、照顾员工的福祉、管理冲突情绪以及利用支持资源。尽管雇主在应对运营挑战时得到了支持，但调查结果表明他们没有为情感之旅做好准备。当他们意识到自己无法再以受伤前的水平表现时，他们努力支持员工度过艰难的过程，而雇主则努力寻找合适的角色并确保受伤员工的福祉。尽管雇主们做出了努力，但他们认为这个过程让一些员工士气低落。结论：就员工和雇主的运营和情感支持需求向雇主提供建议是 VR 提供商面临的持续挑战。尽管不支持的雇主在这个样本中没有得到很好的代表，但该研究强调了那些对员工的成功 RTW 进行了大量个人投资的雇主所面临的挑战和使用的策略。尽管雇主们做出了努力，但他们认为这个过程让一些员工士气低落。结论：就员工和雇主的运营和情感支持需求向雇主提供建议是 VR 提供商面临的持续挑战。尽管不支持的雇主在这个样本中没有得到很好的代表，但该研究强调了那些对员工的成功 RTW 进行了大量个人投资的雇主所面临的挑战和使用的策略。尽管雇主们做出了努力，但他们认为这个过程让一些员工士气低落。结论：就员工和雇主的运营和情感支持需求向雇主提供建议是 VR 提供商面临的持续挑战。尽管不支持的雇主在这个样本中没有得到很好的代表，但该研究强调了那些对员工的成功 RTW 进行了大量个人投资的雇主所面临的挑战和使用的策略。