Workers' compensation and benefits policy
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to workers injured in the course of their employment. Eligibility for, and awarding of, benefits to injured workers are determined by workers’ compensation boards, which are funded through employer premiums. IWH research explores trends in compensation benefits, including benefit adequacy and equity, as well as the effects of compensation policy design on injury and illness prevention.
Featured
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
Impact case study
Following reports by IWH and others, B.C. amends the law to strengthen protections against claim suppression
After an IWH study filled a research gap on claim suppression in B.C. and helped make the case for change, the province amended legislation to strengthen protections against the practice.
Published: July 6, 2023
Impact case study
Evidence-based service delivery model at WSIB improved return-to-work outcomes
A new case management system for delivering services to injured workers and employers in Ontario leads to improved return-to-work outcomes.
Published: December 2014
Impact case study
WSIB work reintegration program improves outcomes, lowers costs
Study by IWH "points us in the right direction," says former WSIB exec.
Published: December 2014
Issue Briefing
Suppression of workplace injury and illness claims: summary of evidence in Canada
This Issue Briefing highlights findings from two reports by Prism Economics and Analysis—one for Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the other for the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba—on the incidence and risk of claim suppression.
Published: October 2014
Project report
Project report
Work injury and poverty: investigating prevalence across programs and over time
This report shares the findings from a study on the prevalence of poverty among permanently impaired injured workers across different time periods and receiving benefits from different legislative programs.
Published: July 2014
At Work article
At Work article
New research centre to examine work disability policy in Canada
The Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy, led by two IWH scientists, aims to improve how people with disability are supported in the labour market
Published: February 2014
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Income security and labour-market engagement: Envisioning the future of work disability policy in Canada
In this plenary IWH senior scientists Drs. Emile Tompa and Ellen MacEachen describe the new Centre for Research in Work Disability Policy, recently launched to address work disability policy challenges through a seven-year SSHRC Partners grant. They describe the centre’s mandate and how it's organized to create a new generation of research on work disability policy.
Published: February 2014
Project report
Project report
Adequacy of workers’ compensation benefits: supplemental report
This report describes the findings of a supplemental analysis of the adequacy of workers’ compensation earnings replacement benefits. The original analysis measured the adequacy of earnings replacement benefits for permanently disabled workers under two workers’ compensation benefit regimes in Ontario. The supplementary analysis ihcludes the contribution of Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefits to the assessment of the adequacy of wage replacement benefits.
Published: April 2013
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Work disability trajectories under three workers' compensation programs
This presentation profiles a study that investigated how Ontario workers’ compensation claimants from different time periods fared in terms of labour-market earnings recovery. More specifically, this study investigated the labour-market earning patterns of Ontario workers’ compensation long-term disability claimants from three different time periods and receiving benefits under three different programs. The study provides insights into the individual and contextual factors that contribute to labour-market engagement and earnings recovery.
Published: April 2013
Project
Project
Analyzing the adequacy of benefits among workers’ compensation claimants in Ontario, 1999-2005
An IWH research team updated an earlier study that looked at the adequacy of workers’ compensation benefits for permanently disabled workers under two Ontario programs: pre-1990 and 1990-1997. This update took a look at benefits adequacy under the program introduced in 1998.
Status: Completed 2017
Project
Project
Inter-jurisdictional comparison of OHS and workers’ compensation system performance
Jurisdictions can learn a lot from each other about ways to improve the performance of their occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation systems by comparing their systems. This collaborative research project aims to do just that, starting with a comparison of severe work-related injuries and long-duration claims in B.C., Manitoba and Ontario.
Status: Completed 2020