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
Journal article
Journal article
Does it matter what your reasons are when deciding to disclose (or not disclose) a disability at work? The association of workers' approach and avoidance goals with perceived positive and negative workplace outcomes
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, February 2021
Journal article
Journal article
Online resources supporting workers with chronic episodic disabilities: an environmental scan
Published: International Journal of Workplace Health Management, January 2021
Project
Project
Ontario Life After Work Injury Study: Cannabis use and long-term recovery and return-to-work outcomes among Ontario injured workers
An IWH study is helping us understand how workers with work-related injuries and illnesses use cannabis and how that use is related to their recovery and return to work.
Status: Ongoing
Project
Project
Developing a framework for measuring culture change related to accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities
Research shows people with disabilities are often not permitted to, and/or are prevented from, participating in various activities in society, including employment. Culture change is needed to make substantive and sustainable change. This project aims to develop a set of clear and robust measures to track culture change as part of efforts to advance social inclusion and accessibility.
Status: Ongoing
Journal article
Journal article
Age differences in return-to-work following injury: understanding the role of age dimensions across longitudinal follow-up
Published: Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, December 2020
Journal article
Journal article
The working disadvantaged: the role of age, job tenure and disability in precarious work
Published: BMC Public Health, December 2020
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Does it matter what workers’ reasons are for disclosing or not disclosing a disability at work? Why and how?
Deciding whether or not to disclose a disability to others at work is a complex consideration. People with many chronic mental and physical health conditions, often called episodic disabilities, experience times of relative wellness punctuated by intermittent periods of activity limitations. How do they decide whether or not to disclose their health conditions? In this presentation, Dr. Monique Gignac shares findings from her study examining participants' reasons and goals for disclosing—and whether these matter to work support outcomes.
Published: November 2020
Tools and guides
Working with a rheumatic disease
This interactive tool is designed for youth and young adults with rheumatic health conditions such as juvenile arthritis or lupus as they begin their working lives. It is designed to help them identify and address the unique challenges they may face when looking for work, already working or unable to work due to their health condition.
Published: November 2020
At Work article
Depressive symptoms in people with arthritis linked to lower employment rates
Research has shown that people with arthritis face difficulties finding work and staying at work. Now, a new study finds that when people with arthritis also have depressive symptoms, the risks of work disability are even greater.
Published: October 2020
Research Highlights
Depression and work among adults with arthritis
About 13 per cent of working-age people in the U.S. who have arthritis also experience depressive symptoms. Having both arthritis and depressive symptoms lowers the likelihood of working. For people aged 35 to 54, having depressive symptoms in addition to arthritis lowers the likelihood of working by 17 per cent.
Published: October 2020