1. Research priorities

Work and health within broader societal context

Work has a role to play in producing and maintaining inequalities in population health. But broader conditions outside work—such as economic conditions, housing affordability and access to childcare—can impact employment quality and worker health and safety. Similarly, social and income support systems can shape the experiences of workers facing a job interruption, and accessibility legislation can impact employment opportunities for persons living with disabilities. Our research explores how workers and workplaces are affected by changes to labour, social and health laws and policies, as well as by macro economic and societal conditions.

Latest findings

A young worker at her computer workstation holds her shoulder and neck in pain

Examining the link between job insecurity, work limitations and persistent symptoms among young adults with rheumatic disease

Young adults with rheumatic disease who reported high work activity limitations were also more likely to report persistent high levels of pain, fatigue and active rheumatic disease symptoms. Those who experienced job insecurity were more likely to report persistent pain and active disease symptoms.
A masked personal support worker looks grimly at the camera

Working conditions for Greater Toronto Area personal support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

While the pandemic highlighted the importance of the PSW workforce to the Canadian health-care system, pre-existing poor working conditions—in particular, insecure jobs with few benefits—exacerbated COVID-19-related work experiences.
Blurred figures of workers walking

Workers doing vigorous, tiring activity all day no healthier than those who are least active

What daily physical activity pattern is best for your heart health? An IWH research team analyzed activity tracker data in a nationally representative sample of nearly 8,100 workers and examined their 10-year risk of heart disease.

Racial and ethnic inequities in the return-to-work process

In the first systematic review on racial and ethnic inequities in return to work, IWH found strong evidence that non-white workers are less likely than white workers to return to work following an injury or illness—and moderate evidence that Black workers face pronounced barriers.

A graphic depicting a crowd of people

Ideal daily physical activity patterns for heart health

What daily physical activity pattern is best for your heart health? A new infographic compares how Canadian workers get their exercise—and their 10-year risk of heart disease.

Ongoing projects

Implementation of a comprehensive accommodation and reintegration program in a police service

This study sets out to evaluate the implementation of an accommodation and reintegration program at a major urban police service. The goal is to improve program access and participation and, ultimately, the well-being of police officers.

Exploring how daily patterns of sleep and activity affect the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality among Canadian workers

This study sets out to understand how daily activity patterns–including time spent sleeping, being sedentary and doing physical activity of varying levels of intensity—are associated with risks of heart disease and early death. It will also identify the effects of changing the duration of sleep and activity on health outcomes of workers in physically and psychologically demanding jobs.

Job quality and wellbeing in Canada: generating insights on the new world of work

Amid shifting labour market conditions in Canada, including the rise of precarious employment and of low quality jobs, this project will describe the current landscape of job quality in Canada and examine the relationship between job quality and wellbeing.

Understanding the role of parental employment quality in child mental health

An IWH study is using general population surveys in Canada to better understand the role of parental employment quality as a social determinant of child mental health.

Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA): Transition to work and career development

This project will identify and synthesize innovative school-to-work transition programs, practices and interventions for persons with disabilities that emphasize access to high-quality jobs and career success.

Exploring where Canadians work and live and their association with active transportation

The quality of built environments and social environments can support active transportation. This study aims to help fill a knowledge gap on the role of the built environment around workplaces, as well as the interplay between work and home environments.

Artificial intelligence and occupational injury and illness in Ontario: implications for prevention and recovery

This study—one of the first of its kind to better understand the implications of AI for Ontario’s health and safety system—will build the evidence base on the scope and use of AI applications in OHS and RTW.

Champions as social agents of change: what can we learn from worker well-being initiatives?

This project explores the role of champions in improving worker participation in workplace well-being programs.

What are the long-term health and labour market outcomes of workers who experienced work-related COVID-19 transmission?

This project fills an important knowledge gap by determining the health and return-to-work outcomes of Canadians who acquired COVID-19 at work.

Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA): A social innovation lab to increase demand-side capacity to employ persons with disabilities in Canada

This large, national project includes many research team members, collaborators and partners—all taking an innovative approach to increasing the sustainable employment of people with disabilities in Canada by building disability confidence and accommodation capacity among employers

View more projects