Return to work, accommodation and support
IWH has a long history of conducting research on practices, policies and processes that help workers sustainably return to work after an illness or an injury. This page pulls together IWH research and resources on employer supports, job accommodations and modifications, as well as other related issues such as disclosure of disability.
Featured
Research Highlights
How do employment support programs impact the health of young adults with episodic disabilities?
Episodic disabilities can make it challenging for workers to find and sustain employment while managing their symptoms and work demands. An IWH study investigated the health impacts of employment support programs for young adults with episodic disabilities.
Published: April 8, 2024
Research Highlights
Workers are using cannabis to treat work-related conditions, mostly without medical guidance
While cannabis is often used recreationally, there is growing interest in its use for therapeutic purposes, such as for pain, anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Some workers are using cannabis many months following the onset of a work-related condition, mostly without medical guidance.
Published: October 5, 2023
At Work article
Young adults with chronic conditions often struggle to access workplace supports
Young people with arthritis have the same accommodation needs as their older counterparts. But they face a few distinct barriers accessing those workplace supports. Find out why.
Published: November 2017
Journal article
Journal article
Systematic review of prognostic factors for return to work in workers with sub acute and chronic low back pain
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, September 2017
IWH in the media
Bad news: Now standing at work is killing you, too
Wait, what? It's been less than a week since we shared with you the grim news that sitting as much as you do will one day transform you into a helpless, miserable, immobile old person who can barely walk. Now, a team of Canadian researchers have found that people who primarily stand at work are twice as likely to develop heart disease as their chair-dwelling counterparts
Published: GQ, September 2017
Journal article
Journal article
Implementation of a disability management policy in a large healthcare employer: a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods evaluation
Published: BMJ Open, June 2017
Video
Video
Creating effective return-to-work programs for workers with MSDs
What workplace-based interventions are effective in helping workers with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) recover and return to work after a period of work absence? This is the question that a team of researchers from the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) in Toronto, Canada, and the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) in Melbourne, Australia, set out to answer through a systematic review of high quality research on the topic.
Published: May 2017
IWH in the media
New study shows that life and career stage do matter when thinking about the impact of arthritis on employment
Arthritis affects 4.3 million Canadians, 60 per cent of whom are under the age of 65. Yet, we know little about how people with arthritis balance their work responsibilities with the management of their health condition at different stages of their lives, writes Institute for Work & Health (IWH) Research Associate Julie Bowring.
Published: CAPA Newsletter, May 2017
IWH in the media
Making the best of RTW interventions
Multi-faceted programs that package together different components have their advantages, writes Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Uyen Vu.
Published: Canadian HR Reporter, April 2017
IWH in the media
Getting back on one's feet
Healthcare providers who treat injured workers with multiple injuries and complex illnesses find the workers’ compensation system and return-to-work (RTW) process “opaque and confusing.” That's one of the findings from a two-year, multijurisdictional study by the Institute of Work & Health (IWH).
Published: OHS Canada, February 2017
Systematic Review
Systematic Review
Effective workplace-based return-to-work interventions: a systematic review update
This report synthesizes the evidence from a systematic review on the effectiveness of workplace-based return-to-work interventions and updates the Institute's 2004 systematic review on the same subject. This update brings in evidence published since 2004, and expands upon the original systematic review by including work absences due not only to musculoskeletal disorders, but also to mental health and pain-related conditions.
Published: February 2017
At Work article
Health professionals report uncertainty over roles in RTW of workers with complex injuries
Case managers and health-care professionals share their thoughts about doctors' role in the workers' compensation system.
Published: February 2017