Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse the collaboration between the occupational physician and rehabilitation physician. Methods: Our questionnaire comprised 33 items focusing mainly on the physician’s rehabilitation report and the legislation on social welfare (“Sozialgesetzbuch IX“). After developing and testing the instrument in a pilot study, we sent the questionnaire to 510 occupational physicians from Baden-Wuerttemberg. Results: 86 % of the occupational physicians stated that they initiate rehabilitation measures. However, direct contact with the rehabilitation physicians — either before, during or after rehabilitation — is rare. This is all the more surprising as occupational physicians regard such cooperation as important. Occupational physicians rarely have insight into the physician’s rehabilitation report. However, when they do, they regard the report as helpful for assessing the employee’s state of health and use the information when the patient returns to work. High expectations have been placed in the new legislation (SGB IX). Many physicians have agreed to play a part in drawing up the recommendations and manning service centres. Conclusions: Although occupational physicians realise the importance of good cooperation between themselves and the rehabilitation physicians, there are great deficits in this area, mainly in communication. The new service centres may act as an institution for communication. The new challenge for occupational physicians is to seize this chance and take an active part in the new service centres.