Helpfulness of Workplace Accommodations in Maintaining Health and Work Ability in Older Employees with Poor Health in Germany

Abstract

Objective: Supporting employees with health impairments to stay at work through workplace accommodation is a well-researched topic. However, research on workplace accommodations for older employees is lacking.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the German lidA cohort study in 2018 focusing on older employees who reported poor health (n = 421) was analyzed. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to asses a potential association between the accommodation type and perceived helpfulness of workplace accommodations in older employees with poor health.

Results: Changes in working times (OR 6.59), in work tasks (OR 3.50) and in the workplace (OR 2.57) were perceived as most helpful.

Conclusion: The results indicate that workplace accommodations can be helpful in older employees with health impairments and that this is not by chance, but that the perceived effectiveness has determinants and can be influenced.