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
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: Preventing and managing work-related psychological injuries in Canada and Australia
On May 26, Dr. Peter Smith shares study findings about approaches across Canada and Australia to prevent and manage work-related psychological injuries. He also outlines other relevant research from IWH on psychosocial work factors and challenges in return to work for work-related psychological conditions.
Apply for the Cameron Mustard award
Applications are now open for IWH’s Cameron Mustard Early Career Accelerator Award! This award is designed to support an early career researcher in the field of work and health. It pays tribute to Dr. Cameron Mustard’s 20-year presidency at IWH and his commitment to mentoring future generations of work and health researchers. Apply by June 19.
Neighbourhood infrastructure such as bike paths, bus routes shape workers’ active commuting patterns
The built environments around where we work and live can play an important role in shaping our decision to walk, bike or take public transit to work. That's according to a joint study that examines Canadians' active commuting habits based on the social and built characteristics of their neighbourhoods.
IWH Speaker Series
Learn directly from IWH researchers themselves about their latest findings in health, safety and disability prevention. Coming up next:
Preventing and managing work-related psychological injuries in Canada and Australia
Presented by Peter Smith.
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 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.