From Participant to Passenger: Workers' Experiences of Recovery During a Workers' Compensation Claim.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Social insurance systems provide essential financial support to cover living expenses and medical treatment needs during times of work incapacity. However, many ill and injured workers experience the administrative processes involved in accessing these systems as difficult to navigate, which can stifle recovery and slow return to work. The present study centres workers' lived experiences to better understand facilitators and barriers to recovery, and to identify solutions grounded in workers' perspectives. METHODS: Twenty Australian workers with work-related injuries, health, and mental health conditions completed an online interview between February and August 2024. Thematic ana..