1. Leaders’ experiences with follow-up of employees on sick leave – an interview study
- Author
-
Christian Abeleng Meyer and Berit Arnsveen Bronken
- Subjects
leader ,sick leave ,experiences ,follow up ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
Purpose: To investigate how leaders experience follow-up of employees on sick leave. Method: Five individual qualitative in-depth interviews with managers with personnel responsibility were conducted and analysed with systematic text condensation. Findings: The analytical process identified four main themes: 1) As a leader you have to care for your employees and be available, 2) How sick are you – really?, 3) Facing psychological problems creates uncertainty, and 4) Leaders are also in need of support. The leaders emphasized the values of availability and a good relationship and dialogue in their leadership. The follow-up was unproblematic when the sick leave was reasonable and openly communicated. The leaders reported greater uncertainty in cases of mental disorders, including scarce and diffuse communication. Lack of transparency was demanding and could weaken trust and credibility of the sick leave. The leaders expressed a need for support from their own leaders, as the leader role could be lonely at times. Conclusion: The leaders emphasized the values of mutual trust and a good relationship with their employees. Uncertainty in the follow-up of employees during sick leaves was most evident in cases with mental health problems and when the reason for the sick leave was complex and under communicated. At times, the leaders could feel lonely in their role and expressed a need for support from their own leaders.
- Published
- 2024