Does Activating Sick-Listed Workers Work? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

Kai Rehwald (), Michael Rosholm and Bénédicte Rouland
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Kai Rehwald: Aarhus University

No 9771, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using data from a large-scale randomized controlled trial conducted in Danish job centers, this paper investigates the effects of an intensification of mandatory return-to-work activities on the subsequent labor market outcomes for sick-listed workers. Using variations in local treatment strategies, both between job centers and between randomly assigned treatment and control groups within a given job center, we compare the relative effectiveness of alternative interventions. Our results show that the use of partial sick leave increases the length of time spent in regular employment and non-reliance on benefits, and also reduces the time spent in unemployment. Traditional active labor market programs and the use of paramedical care appear to have no effect at all, or even an adverse effect.

Keywords: long-term sickness; vocational rehabilitation; treatment effects; randomized controlled trial (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 I18 J68 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2016-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-exp, nep-hea and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Working Paper: Does Activating Sick-Listed Workers Work? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment (2015)
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