Dr. Arif Jetha
Dr. Arif Jetha is associate scientific director and scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. He is also an associate professor (status-only) at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
Jetha earned his PhD in behavioural sciences and public health at the University of Toronto, and an MSc in health community and development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He also held post-doctoral fellowships at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and the Institute for Work & Health.
Jetha’s program of research aims at understanding how sociopolitical, technological, environmental and economic changes that characterize the future of work affect the health and employment participation of vulnerable workers including young workers and persons living with disabilities. He is specifically interested in the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on the health, safety and well-being of workers.
To pursue his research program, Jetha takes a systems perspective and uses a mixed-methods research approach. He collaborates closely with diverse research partners to produce findings that can inform policy and practice.
“The world of work is changing at a rapid rate. Studying the future of work allows me to understand the emerging challenges facing workers and create an evidence base that can be used to inform the design of policies and programs that are resilient to change and protect the most vulnerable.”
— Dr. Arif Jetha
Projects
- Transitioning to the future of work: an intersectional study of vulnerable youth and young adults. Funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Completed. (PI on the project)
Publications
- Gignac MA, Bowring J, Shahidi FV, Kristman VL, Cameron JI, Jetha A. Workplace disclosure decisions of older workers wanting to remain employed: a qualitative study of factors considered when contemplating revealing or concealing support needs. Work, Aging and Retirement. 2024;10(2):174–187. doi:10.1093/workar/waac029.
- Jetha A, Bonaccio S, Shamaee A, Banks CG, Bultmann U, Smith PM, Tompa E, Tucker LB, Norman C, Gignac MA. Divided in a digital economy: understanding disability employment inequities stemming from the application of advanced workplace technologies. SSM - Qualitative Research in Health. 2023;3:100293. doi:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100293.
- Jetha A, Shahidi FV. Racism: a neglected piece of the work disability management puzzle. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 2023;33(3):415-417. doi:10.1007/s10926-023-10133-3.
- Jetha A, Bakhtari H, Rosella LC, Gignac MA, Biswas A, Shahidi FV, Smith BT, Smith MJ, Mustard C, Khan N, Arrandale VH, Loewen PJ, Zuberi D, Dennerlein JT, Bonaccio S, Wu N, Irvin E, Smith PM. Artificial intelligence and the work-health interface: a research agenda for a technologically transforming world of work. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2023;66(10):815-830. doi:10.1002/ajim.23517.
- Jetha A, Navaratnerajah L, Shahidi FV, Carnide N, Biswas A, Yanar B, Siddiqi A. Racial and ethnic inequities in the return-to-work of workers experiencing injury or illness: a systematic review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 2023;33(3):432-449. doi:10.1007/s10926-023-10119-1.
Speaker Series presentations
- Promoting labour market transitions for young adults with chronic disabling conditions: a systematic review. IWH Speaker Series. November 27, 2018.
- Life course concepts in the work experiences of people with arthritis. IWH Speaker Series. November 22, 2016.
Interviews and articles
- How employers can support employees with psoriatic conditions. Benefits Canada. February 21, 2023. Available from: https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/disability-management/how-employers-can-support-employees-with-psoriatic-conditions/
- Launching a research program on AI, work and health. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 111, Winter 2023.
- ‘My new co-worker is shiny’: Pandemic accelerated adoption of workplace robots. OHS Canada. April 25, 2022. Available from: https://www.ohscanada.com/features/my-new-co-worker-is-shiny/
- I struggled with office life. Now others are alive to benefits of remote working. The Guardian. July 25, 2021. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/25/working-from-home-mental-health
- Re-opening the economy should include access for young people with chronic disease . The Province. June 14, 2021. Available from: https://theprovince.com/opinion/op-ed/dr-arif-jetha-re-opening-the-economy-should-include-access-for-young-people-with-chronic-disease