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
Response to COVID-19: Gathering experiences of OHS authorities in developed countries
How have OHS authorities in developed countries responded to COVID-19? An IWH Issue Briefing offers some insights.
What research can do: Partnering on a tool to estimate occupational risks of COVID
Public Health Ontario and Institute for Work & Health collaborate on a tool to estimate the occupational exposures that put workers at risk of COVID-19
Emerging evidence points to negative health effects of physical work demands
Recent studies are suggesting physically demanding work can have negative effects on workers’ cardiovascular health. At a recent IWH Speaker Series presentation, Associate Scientist Dr. Avi Biswas discussed how workplaces and policy-makers can help.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.
