Abstract
Introduction:
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is an intervention program structured to develop therapeutic and professionalization activities aiming at recoverying work ability.
Objective:
to identify the perceptions and feelings of rehabilitated or in rehabilitation workers about the VR process, as well as to describe their health and sick leave profiles.
Methods:
qualitative and descriptive study carried out with workers of a municipal basic sanitation public service, who had taken part in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VRP). Eleven interviews were conducted using a semi-structured instrument. The thematic or categorical analysis technique was used for data treatment.
Results:
we identified 4 categories of analysis: Disease and sick leave impact; Ineffectiveness of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program; Workers’ perception regarding return to work; Relationship with heads and co-workers.
Conclusion:
in the participants’ perspective, the rehabilitation process highlights the disease and sick leave impacts, and disclose the VRP ineffectiveness. Difficulties in returning to work and in the relationship with heads and co-workers were pointed out as factors that influence work rehabilitation.
Keywords:
social security; vocational rehabilitation; occupational health; professional reintegration; work capacity