Vocational rehabilitation as support for work ability

When an employee’s work ability deteriorates, our work ability specialists support your company’s work ability management so that the employee can continue working or return to work despite the limitations caused by the illness. You have access to Elo’s vocational rehabilitation services and the expertise of our work ability specialists.

Vocational rehabilitation can influence the risk related to work ability. It is a set of measures that can be used to maintain and restore an employee’s work ability. One of the prerequisites for granting vocational rehabilitation is a risk of disability caused by an illness, defect or injury that can be influenced through vocational rehabilitation.

• Raise the matter with the employee.
• Arrange a work ability negotiation with the employee, occupational health care and, if necessary, HR.
• Advise the employee to apply for vocational rehabilitation in our web service for private customers. The application must include a medical certificate B and the work ability negotiation document, if such a negotiation has been held.
• When we request the employer’s description of the employee’s work and performance in our web service for corporate customers, complete it and send it to us.

The methods of vocational rehabilitation include work trials and job coaching at the workplace, support for entrepreneurship and training. The employee may receive planning support from a job coach when needed.

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Vocational rehabilitation

How to address work ability challenges

Methods of vocational rehabilitation

Elo’s vocational rehabilitation is a set of measures supporting continued participation in working life or return to work. The methods include work trials and job coaching at the workplace, support for entrepreneurship and training. The employee may receive planning support from a job coach when needed.

Job coach as support in planning

If the employee needs support in planning vocational rehabilitation, they may receive the support of a job coach from our contract partner. Our contract partners are service providers selected through competitive tendering. Job coaching does not generate costs for the employer or the employee.

Read more about job coaches

Workplace rehabilitation: work trial and job coaching

In Elo’s vocational rehabilitation, rehabilitation carried out at the workplace is the primary option. An employee’s return to work after a long sickness absence can often be supported through workplace rehabilitation, meaning a work trial or job coaching. Work tasks are adjusted to fit the employee’s health condition in cooperation with occupational health care and the employee. The adjustments must continue after the workplace rehabilitation if the employee’s work ability requires it. The goal may also be for the employee to familiarise themselves with new tasks that better suit their health condition.

The aim of workplace rehabilitation is for the employee to continue in that job after the rehabilitation ends. If the current employer cannot offer work suitable for the employee’s health or if the employment relationship is not valid, workplace rehabilitation can be carried out at a new workplace. Workplace rehabilitation may be unpaid or paid, depending on the employer’s choice. In paid workplace rehabilitation, the salary must remain the same each month. The rehabilitation benefit is paid to the employer for the portion corresponding to the salary.

A work trial can begin with reduced working hours. The goal is for the employee to work full time at the end of the work trial. The duration is usually 1–3 months. A work trial may be extended for another 1–3 months for a justified reason.

Job coaching is suitable when a work trial alone is not enough for transferring to a new job. Job coaching typically includes not only work at the workplace but also studies, such as courses. In job coaching, the employee works full time. The duration is usually 6–18 months. Long job coaching periods are often paid.

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Work trial and job coaching

Arranging and monitoring workplace rehabilitation

Vocational training

In vocational rehabilitation, workplace rehabilitation is always the primary option. If the employee’s previous work or occupation is no longer suitable for their health and reassignment through workplace rehabilitation is not possible, support for vocational training may be considered. Training may consist of a course, a partial vocational qualification, a basic qualification, a vocational qualification, a specialist vocational qualification or, in some cases, a university of applied sciences degree. Training can be completed through an apprenticeship, a training agreement or as in-person or remote studies. We can support one qualification, and its maximum duration is 4 years.

We pay rehabilitation allowance to the employee during the training period. If the training is completed through an apprenticeship, the rehabilitation benefit is paid to the employer providing the apprenticeship position for the portion corresponding to the salary.

Read more about studying on TELA’s website

Support for starting or continuing as an entrepreneur

We can support an entrepreneur or a person planning to become an entrepreneur with business subsidy and a work trial in their own company. To grant business subsidy and an entrepreneur’s work trial, the business must have good operating conditions and the job description must be suitable for the entrepreneur’s health condition. Business subsidy may be granted for acquiring work tools and equipment needed for the profession. An entrepreneur’s work trial may last up to 6 months, and the entrepreneur receives support from a job coach from our contract partner specialising in supporting entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur receives a rehabilitation benefit from us during the work trial.

Read more about vocational rehabilitation for entrepreneurs

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