JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Aging workers constitute a growing population in many countries and form an indispensable and qualified resource, especially in the context of the labor shortage. Despite work’s many benefits for individuals, organizations, and societies, it also presents several risks and challenges that may lead to occupational injuries. Thus, rehabilitation professionals and managers working with this emerging and unique clientele during their return to work after an absence often lack the tools and skills to support them, especially in the changing world of work that includes the rise of telework. Indeed, as an increasingly present work arrangement, telework has the potential for use as an accommodation modality that can facilitate inclusion and healthy participation in the workplace. However, the implications of this topic for aging workers require study.

Objective:

This paper presents the protocol of a study that aims to develop a reflective telework application guide to support the accommodation, inclusion, and health of aging workers after an absence from work. Specifically, this study will 1) explore the experience of aging workers, managers, and rehabilitation professionals regarding telework and its impact on accommodation, inclusion, and health, 2) use a validated logic model to design a reflective application guide, and 3) test and evaluate the guide.

Methods:

Following a three-phase developmental research design, individual interviews with aging teleworkers, managers, and rehabilitation professionals will enable collecting qualitative data to use in generating a logic model of levers and good practices, leading to the creation of a reflective application guide. Validation of this guide by workers and managers, to measure its acceptability and applicability in daily life, will precede its implementation.

Results:

This study aims to generate a concrete tool—namely, the application guide—that rehabilitation professionals could use to support managers and aging workers during their return to work, through the healthy use of telework. All phases of the study include conducting dissemination activities, to share the results of the project and increase its sustainability potential (ie, publication via social networks, podcasts, conferences, scientific publications).

Conclusions:

As the first of its kind, this project aims to produce innovative impacts at several levels, including practical, scientific, and societal impacts. In addition, the results will provide healthy solutions to the labor shortage in a changing world of work, where digital and teleworking are becoming increasingly important.