Return-to-Work Interview

A return-to-work interview is a systematic and structured conversation held between an employee and a supervisor or another representative of the employer as soon as the employee returns to the workplace after a sickness-related absence. The aim of this conversation is to ease the return to work and to prevent renewed incapacity for work. This is achieved by identifying potential stress factors, discussing the employee's state of health, and determining the measures needed to support and adapt the workplace.

The return-to-work interview also serves to clarify work-related questions that may have arisen during the absence, as well as to discuss any organizational adjustments required for the employee's smooth reintegration. It represents an important measure within workplace health management, as it promotes communication between employer and employee, strengthens trust, and lays the foundation for sustainable working capacity. The interview is also a preventive tool that helps to detect work-related illnesses at an early stage and to initiate appropriate countermeasures, in order to safeguard employees' health and well-being over the long term.

• Paschke, C. (2022). Das betriebliche Eingliederungsmanagement (BEM) – eine Betrachtung aus rechtlicher Perspektive. In: Hajji, R., Kitze, K., Pieck, N. (eds) Gesundheitsfördernde Organisationsentwicklung. Springer, Wiesbaden.

• Müller, A., Striepling, I. (2020). Das betriebliche Eingliederungsmanagement (BEM). In: Simmel, M., Graßl, W. (eds) Betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement mit System . Springer, Wiesbaden.