Work Ability as Determinant of Termination of Employment: To Resign or Be Dismissed?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether work ability plays a role in termination of employment (resignation or dismissal) in the short-to-medium run. Four-year cohort study with 1060 Brazilian hospital workers. The outcome was final employment status (active, resignation, or dismissal). Multinomial models were fit. At the end of follow-up, 14.3% of the workers had resigned and 34.0% were dismissed. Impaired work ability was a risk factor for dismissal (relative risk ratio  = 1.39), but not for resignation. Also, job strain, age and sex, family income, nutritional status, and workshift were associated with employment termination. Impaired work ability was a risk factor for dismissal but not for resignation in the short-to-medium run. Individual and occupational characteristics also contributed to employment termination. Improvement of work ability and working conditions are recommended to prevent quitting the job.