Articles

This page lists all practical and feature articles available on RTWMatters. From top ten tips, how to guides and case studies, through to webinar recordings and video interviews with industry experts.

Click the ‘Topics’ button below to drill down into all articles and research updates on your topic of interest.

Click the ‘Quick Guides’ button for practical bit sized guides that give you a sound basic knowledge base.

A sneak peak at some ground-breaking research

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Dr William Shaw takes us behind the (research) scenes at Liberty Mutual in the US.

Coping after a traumatic event

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Techniques to cope with the emotional and physical symptoms of experiencing a traumatic event.

Top ten tips for preventing stress in your workplace

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What's the best way to deal with stress in the workplace? Prevent it from ever occurring! Our...

Business as usual: Managing RTW and psychiatric disability

contributorGabrielle Lis

Dr Geoffrey Waghorn tells us about the importance of employment for people with severe mental...

Case Study: When return to work fails

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

This case study looks at a young man with a long career ahead of him and the reasons he will...

Test: retaining your best employees

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Take this test to see if you or your employees are feeling how they ought to in the workplace....

What is evidence based medicine and why do we need it?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What does "evidence based medicine" refer to exactly, and why should we care to know?

The negative potential of performance bonuses

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

In the second part of RTW Matters' interview with Occupational Therapist Kate Roylance, she...

Finding the middle ground

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Occupational therapist Kate Roylance was very surprised that many of you responded that...

Returning to work after injury

contributorJennifer Goode

A positive story of a long road back to a better life.

Habitat at Work (New Zealand)

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Web based self assessment & exercise tool

Occupational health - what's age got to do with it?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

For men and women entrance to mid-life will affect them - at home and at work - in different...

No need for negative nellies

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Words may not break bones like sticks and stones, but they can still do a lot of damage.

Is work good for you? Professor Kim Burton explains the UK's changing answer

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

In this interview with UK expert we learn that modern vocational rehabilitation is not about...

Our top ten tips to improve RTW outcomes

contributorCheryl Griffiths

A back to the basics look at getting it right from the beginning

How one company turned 13 workers' compensation claims into two

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Seventy work-sites to manage, different styles of management, a tough work culture,...

Too much talking? No such thing!

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Communication between GPs and occupational health professionals.

RTW: no yellow brick road

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The path to return to work shouldn't have to be long and difficult

What is vocational rehabilitation?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Let's go back a few steps now, and take a look at how we can define the concept.

The Stress Series Part 3 - Prevention programs in the workplace

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Employers can take action to beat the problem of stress before it even arises. This article...

Tuna farmers turning the tide in return to work management.

contributorSarah Duffield

An investment in occupational health, safety and welfare has paid dividends for a South...

The Stress Series - Part 2

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Stress claims commonly build up over time, until the person reaches a point where they can't...

Rehabilitating after mental illness

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

With dignity and respect, self-responsibility and supportive relationships, return to work after...

Understanding successful return to work for cancer survivors

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

It's more important than ever to understand the factors that help and hinder cancer patients...

Gabrielle Lis

contributorGabrielle Lis

Gabrielle Lis joins RTWMatters from the beach at Wilson's Prom

The writing is in the book

contributorDenis Kinang

When a heroin and alcohol addiction lead you to the darkest places you've ever been, what can...

A flag is a flag is a flag

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Everyday words can take on different meanings when used by medical practitioners, but to what...

The Stress Series - Part 1

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Welcome to the first article in our five-part stress series. The series will look at exactly...

Promoting active workplaces for better work health

contributorSarah Duffield

For employers looking to increase productivity and reduce sick days, a workplace wellness...

Bridging the generation and gender gap

contributorSarah Duffield

Young female rehabilitation consultant + middle aged male worker: the most fraught relationship...

Motivation - Part Seven (b)

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The final article in the motivation series looks at the strategies and techniques of...

On-site injury management

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A chapter summary from the book 'Moving in on occupational injury' exploring the benefits of...

Quality control in RTW: Spend less, achieve more

contributorFrederieke Schaafsma

In the case of Mr S, a well managed return to work system saves an employer $$ and provides good...

Burned by poor RTW management

contributorFrederieke Schaafsma

A badly managed case of staff burnout highlights the importance of an integrated approach to...

Motivation - Part Seven (a)

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The penultimate article in the 'Motivation Series' looks at Motivational Interviewing and the...

Jos Verbeek on The Cochrane Occupational Health Field

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

The Cochrane Occupational Health Field gathers evidence on the effectiveness of occupational...

Motivation - Part Six

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Are you motivated to succeed or to avoid failure?

Good RTW calls for a unified and holistic approach

contributorSarah Duffield

Hear from two return to work and rehabilitation experts with tips to help the rehab and RTW...

Rest and activity avoidance is often not the best medicine.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A young, fit worker develops back pain, is advised to rest and cut back activities. Three months...