Trusted research, with reach and impact
The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is an independent, multidisciplinary, not-for-profit research organization located in Ontario, Canada. IWH conducts and mobilizes research that supports policy-makers, employers and workers in creating healthy, safe and inclusive work environments.
Latest news & findings
IWH Speaker Series: Parental employment quality and the mental health of children
Socioeconomic status is a powerful predictor of child health and development. Job quality is key factor shaping this measure, and the labour market in Canada is shifting towards more precarious forms of work. As a result, a growing share of parents have to rely on casual, insecure and low-wage jobs to make ends meet. On June 23, Dr. Faraz Vahid Shahidi will present research findings on how parental employment quality is linked to children’s mental health and development.
Mental health challenges cost employers over $100 billion a year
According to a new report, the annual cost of mental health challenges in Canada is estimated to be $180 billion. Most of these costs are borne by employers and businesses, and are directed toward reactive responses to mental health conditions, rather than proactive approaches or treatment.
System-level approaches to preventing and managing work-related psychological injuries
Work-related psychological injuries are associated with longer durations, higher costs, and more complex return-to-work processes than physical injuries. While governments and system partners are investing in prevention and management strategies, approaches vary considerably. This project looked at how different jurisdictions in Canada and Australia prevent workplace psychosocial hazards, define and compensate psychological injuries, and support workers through recovery and return to work.
Three key research areas take focus at IWH meeting with health and safety leaders
The third annual IWH Connects meeting brought together health and safety leaders to share and discuss findings in three areas of IWH research. They included: the ways new businesses start managing health and safety, the challenges faced by those providing workplace disability supports, and the research landscape on substance use and work. Read about the highlights.
Impact of right-to-disconnect legislation depends on underlying labour rights landscapes
When it comes to protecting workers’ health and wellbeing, enacting a measure into law is only part of the story. A legislation's potential impact still depends on existing power dynamics within workplaces. A study by IWH research award recipient shows how regulatory effectiveness of right-to-disconnect legislation in Europe is shaped by the industrial relations landscape already in place, including the strength of trade unions, employment standards, regulatory enforcement, and worker involvement at the organizational level.
IWH Speaker Series
Learn directly from IWH researchers themselves about their latest findings in health, safety and disability prevention. Coming up next:
Parental employment quality and the mental health of children
Presented by Faraz Vahid Shahidi.
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11:00AM EST
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Tools and guides
Integrate evidence-based policies and practices into your occupational health and safety, return-to-work and rehabilitation programs. IWH has created a number of tools and guides based on our research findings that can help improve program outcomes.
Impact case studies
Find out how IWH research is making a difference. Read our impact case studies, in which policy-makers, workplaces and other stakeholders in health, safety and disability prevention tell how IWH research helped improve their policies, programs and practices.
Research summaries
Whether it’s a policy briefing, a systematic review summary or the highlights of a specific research project, we’ve compiled a number of plain-language summaries to help you understand the research we’re doing, what we have found, and how we found it.