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
Injured workers face mental health challenges beyond diagnosable conditions
Workers with a work-related physical injury that takes them off the job can have a wide range of mental health experiences, beyond diagnosable conditions. That’s according to an IWH study which also found that differences in injured workers’ mental health were linked to return-to-work outcomes.
Published: April 9, 2025
Research Highlights
Examining four types of job disruptions due to a health condition, and the differences expected when workplace support needs are met
Job disruptions are common among workers living with chronic physical and/or mental health conditions, an IWH study has found. The study investigated the effects of workplace supports had on four types of job disruptions.
Published: March 11, 2025
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, whether to treat their condition or for other reasons, mostly without medical guidance.
Published: October 2023
At Work article
Police service members face challenges with accommodation, communication and trust when returning to work after an injury
A recent IWH study examined the experiences of sworn and civilian Ontario police service members returning to their jobs after experiencing an injury or illness. It found their RTW challenges revolved around five main themes.
Published: September 2023
Journal article
Journal article
Racism: a neglected piece of the work disability management puzzle
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, August 2023
Research Highlights
Primary care physicians’ learning needs in returning ill or injured workers to work
While primary care physicians play an important role in helping ill and injured workers return to work (RTW), they have a variety of learning needs about how to best navigate the RTW process. These needs fall in the areas of completing administrative tasks, challenging personal beliefs, understanding specific RTW issues and learning about available RTW services and tools.
Published: July 2023
IWH in the media
Analysis: One in seven use cannabis to recover from work-related injuries
An estimated one in seven Canadians report using cannabis products to recuperate from work-related physical injuries, according to data published in the journal BMJ Open. Researchers at the Institute for Work & Health surveyed nearly 1,200 Canadians who had received workers’ compensation for either a work-related injury or illness. Fourteen percent of respondents said that they had used cannabis explicitly to recuperate from a workplace injury.
Published: NORML, July 2023
Journal article
Journal article
Cannabis use among workers with work-related injuries and illnesses: results from a cross-sectional study of workers' compensation claimants in Ontario, Canada
Published: BMJ Open, July 2023
Journal article
Journal article
Racial and ethnic inequities in the return-to-work of workers experiencing injury or illness: a systematic review
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, June 2023
IWH in the media
Supporting workers with chronic conditions
Report profiling the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) and its capacity to help worker's find accommodations without disclosing a condition to their employer.
Published: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, May 2023
IWH in the media
New federal initiative aiming to increase employment rate of persons with disabilities
The Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA) initiative aims to build the capacity of employers to hire and accommodate persons with disabilities. This article profiles the initiative's mission.
Published: Benefits Canada, May 2023
IWH in the media
Older workers not prone to ask for employer support
Article reports on an IWH study that found older workers to be reluctant to disclose their need for support in the workplace due to reputational and stereotyping concerns.
Published: Rehab & Community Care, April 2023