During 2023 and 2024, 6 projects were selected to focus on looking for innovative answers in order to strengthen the Ghent labour market.

They were the result of the second call for projects within the ‘Ghent Labour Pact’, and were selected out of 32 project ideas. Altogether, they received almost 450,000 euros in financial support from the City of Ghent.

One of those projects: ‘Colleagues as a key to successful reintegration (Samen Leven vzw)’, is a partnership between Samen Leven VZW, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, and the career advice centre. It involved conducting research into the return of colleagues to the workplace who had been absent due to long-term illness.

Worrying figures from 2021 show that almost half of reintegration cases don’t go well and result in a declaration of medical unfitness for the employee.

To change this trend, it may be necessary to examine the reintegration process itself. Today, a reintegration process is often only a matter between employer and employee (and the occupational health specialist). But it is clear that successful reintegration requires the involvement and cooperation of more actors in the organization, in particular those of the employee’s colleagues, supervisors and management.

Research and experience shows that the behaviour of colleagues is crucial for the smooth return of someone who has been on long-term sickness absence. The more support they receive, the greater the chance of successful reintegration.

This project focuses on developing a sustainable process with colleagues of the returner so that everyone (the person who is being  reintegrated, and the team around them) can deal constructively and positively with the reintegration process. It will enable colleagues to demonstrate more supportive behaviour.

Through a participation process (with colleagues, managers and HR) in the workplace of three organizations in Ghent, a manual has been developed with inspiring working methods, tools, templates and guidelines for colleagues to work positively around reintegration. Due to the diversity of the organisations involved, the manual can be easily  implemented in other sectors

If you would like to know more, please follow the link:  www.sleuteltotre-integratie.be