Workplace rehabilitation, i.e., work trial and work coaching

Workplace rehabilitation is the primary option in Elo's vocational rehabilitation. It involves working at a workplace and can be either a work trial or work coaching. Their purpose is to support your return to work, employment in a new role, or to assess the suitability of a new field for you.

How is workplace rehabilitation organized?

First, check with your employer if workplace rehabilitation can be implemented at your workplace. Discuss workplace rehabilitation with your employer and occupational health services, for example, in an occupational health meeting. Job tasks are adjusted to suit your health condition in collaboration with occupational health and your employer. The goal of workplace rehabilitation can also be to familiarize yourself with new tasks suitable for your health condition.

If your current employer cannot offer work suitable for your health condition or you do not have an active employment contract, we can support workplace rehabilitation at a new workplace. In this case, you can consider potential workplaces where your skills would be beneficial. You can search for a new employer for workplace rehabilitation in the open job market. If you need help finding an employer, you can request a job coach from Elo. Elo does not have ready-made positions available for workplace rehabilitation.

What is the goal of workplace rehabilitation?

The goal of workplace rehabilitation is to find work suitable for your health condition that you can continue after the rehabilitation ends. Similar tasks should be available after the workplace rehabilitation.

Work Trial

A work trial is the most popular method of vocational rehabilitation. In a work trial, you work at a workplace in tasks suitable for your health condition. For example, after a long sick leave, your tasks are adjusted to fit your health, with the goal of transitioning to full-time work.

In a work trial, you work at least 20 hours per week. The goal during the trial is to gradually increase your hours to full-time. Your hours can also be full-time from the start. The duration is typically 1–3 months, and it can be extended for another 1–3 months for a valid reason. The maximum duration is 6 months.

During a work trial, taking leave is generally not allowed.

Read more about work trials in Tela's rehabilitation recommendations

Work Coaching

In work coaching, you work at a workplace learning a new job. It is suitable when a work trial is not enough to transition to a new job and requires a longer orientation period. Work coaching typically includes both on-the-job work and studies, such as courses. You have a full-time schedule. The content of your tasks and the progress of any training should be scheduled at least monthly. Work coaching usually lasts 6–18 months. Longer coaching periods are often paid.

Read more about work coaching in Tela's rehabilitation recommendations

How do I create a work trial or job coaching plan?

Agree with your employer on the following aspects of your workplace rehabilitation:

Start and end dates
Working hours and any potential increases
Job tasks
Monitoring at the workplace and in occupational health, schedule for follow-up meetings
Whether it is unpaid or paid
Whether you can continue in the same tasks after the rehabilitation
In job coaching, the progress of tasks and any training at least on a monthly basis.

Once you have agreed on the above matters, complete the rehabilitation plan in our Online Service.

You will receive a decision on your plan from us in about two weeks.

How do I make an agreement with my employer?

The plan decision includes an agreement that you sign with your employer. The agreement is sent directly to the employer for signing if they use Elo's Corporate Customer Online Service. Sign and send the agreement to Elo.

You will receive a decision on the rehabilitation benefit from us in about two weeks.

What is good to remember during workplace rehabilitation?

report to Elo any sick leave longer than a week or recurring absences and submit your medical certificate through our Online Service
if your workplace rehabilitation is not proceeding as planned, for example, if working hours cannot be increased as scheduled, inform Elo or contact your job coach if you have one
Elo cannot comment on legal issues related to employment contracts

What happens when workplace rehabilitation ends?

complete the workplace rehabilitation feedback in our Online Service under the Rehabilitation tab
the employer fills out the feedback form received from Elo
if you apply for an extension of the work trial, submit an occupational health meeting memo or other medical document recommending the continuation of the work trial through our Online Service
if the employer cannot offer you a job after workplace rehabilitation, you can contact TE services

An entrepreneur's work trial

An entrepreneur's work trial involves working in your own business. Elo can support an entrepreneur or someone becoming an entrepreneur with a work trial in their own company.

Read more about the entrepreneur's work trial >

Paid or unpaid workplace rehabilitation?

We provide a rehabilitation benefit during workplace rehabilitation. The working hours do not affect the amount of the benefit. Workplace rehabilitation can be either paid or unpaid.

During unpaid workplace rehabilitation:

You receive a rehabilitation allowance from Elo.
You can apply for travel reimbursement for rehabilitation-related travel through our Online Service. Reimbursements are paid according to Tela's recommendation.
We provide you with statutory accident insurance.
Elo does not cover workplace meals.

During paid workplace rehabilitation:

The employer pays you a salary.
The salary is paid as if for full-time work, even if you work part-time hours.
The rehabilitation allowance is paid to the employer. If your allowance is greater than your salary, we pay you the difference. If the salary is lower than agreed in any month, the employer is responsible for paying you the difference between the salary and the rehabilitation benefit.
We do not reimburse travel expenses, as you can deduct them in your taxes.