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
At Work article
Inclusive employment strategies, resources showcased at symposium
Published: November 12, 2025
Impact case study
Word spreads about IWH tools, thanks to stakeholders' support
Since the release of two tools designed to support the sustained employment of people with chronic and episodic conditions, word has spread quickly, thanks to organizations that promoted the tools and helped them reach the hands of workers, employers and post-secondary students.
Published: October 16, 2025
Journal article
Journal article
Implementing a collaborative return-to-work program: lessons from a qualitative study in a large Canadian healthcare organization
Published: Work, November 2016
At Work article
Advocate and pioneer challenges all to erase stigma faced by workers with disabilities
IWH Nachemson lecture celebrates Wolfgang Zimmermann's decades-long commitment to improving the lives of injured workers and people with disabilities.
Published: November 2016
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
What are physicians told about their role in return to work?
Physicians have an important role in the return to work (RTW) process, but research shows that they sometimes struggle to manage RTW consultations and help patients return to work after an injury. As part of a broader exploration into the role played by doctors in RTW, an IWH team led by Dr. Agnieszka Kosny sought to examine resources, policies and guidelines that have been developed for physicians by workers’ compensation boards, governments and other organizations across Canada. In this plenary, Kosny highlights resource gaps that may hinder physicians’ understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the workers' compensation system and RTW process, and which may ultimately delay workers’ RTW after injury.
Published: November 2016
At Work article
Key differences found in return-to-work process for MSD and psychological claims
Research comparing MSD and mental health compensation claims in Australia offers a picture of return-to-work challenges for psychological conditions.
Published: August 2016
At Work article
Disability leave duration rises with age, chronic conditions
The relationship between age and days on disability changes with different chronic conditions.
Published: August 2016
At Work article
Monitoring progress key in implementing return-to-work program: IWH study
A workplace study of an innovative return-to-work program highlights progress and opportunities for improvement.
Published: April 2016
IWH in the media
Study looks at relationship between employers and doctors in return to work
A key element of a successful return to work is a good, communicative relationship among the injured worker, the employer and the worker’s doctors. But a study found the relationship between employers and doctors can be marred by mistrust and lack of communication.
Published: OHS Insider, April 2016
At Work article
Depressive symptoms common in first 12 months after work injury
A follow-up study by the Institute for Work & Health finds depressive symptoms at six months after work-related injury are a signal that poor mental health may persist at 12 months.
Published: February 2016
At Work article
New review finds motor control exercise reduces low-back pain, disability among sufferers
Published: February 2016
Project
Project
Effectiveness of workplace-based return-to-work programs: a systematic review update
IN 2004, IWH conducted its first systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of workplace-based interventions, which in turn led to the popular Seven ‘Principles’ of Effective Return to Work. The Institute updated this review to see what new evidence may be available on workplace-based interventions.
Status: Completed 2017