Table 3.

Examples illustrating the coding tree

Data extract	Code	Theme
[My boss says] “I see that you are tired, you need to rest. You need a break. Sit down there in the corner in my recliner and rest, I can see it in your eyes that you need a break, so I’m ‘shutting you down’ (like a machine) a little and I’ll keep working.”	Acknowledging symptoms and encouraging rest at work	Social support for a sustainable work situation
“They warned me that I’d be fatigued and stuff like that, but I thought I could handle it quite well with the gradual steps that I took. And there were planned rest days… And then the doctor said: people manage to start working pretty well, but it’s important that you have longer recovery times, that are not broken up.”	Experience of RTW at just the right pace	Motivated and returned to work while struggling with impairments

RTW, return to work.