An article by Roy A. Nielsen and Tove Midtsundstad investigates whether introducing workplace health-promotion interventions targeting employees with health problems or reduced work ability, as is the aim of the Norwegian establishments’ Inclusive Working Life (IWL) agreement, affected overall sick leave and disability risk.

Based on data from 2000 to 2010, the study finds that such interventions affected overall sickness absence and disability risk only to a minor degree. However, this was mainly due to interventions only having an impact in parts of the labour market. Furthermore, the interventions reduced disability risk but increased sickness absence. Retaining employees with health problems may then cause an increase in sickness absence, although the study suggests that they prolong working careers for some.