Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, an internationally renowned journal in the field of occupational health and safety. It contains three open access articles including a meta-synthesis of qualitative research on return to work (RTW) among employees with common mental disorders and two original articles on RTW (the study protocol of the Danish RTW program and a randomized controlled trial on RTW after early part-time sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders), all of which are mentioned in this issue's editorial.