Saunders R
Dr. Ron Saunders
Director, Knowledge Transfer and Exchange, and Senior Scientist
PhD, Economics, Harvard University
Dr. Ron Saunders is a policy expert with a passion for labour issues. He has coupled these two interests throughout his career, whether working in the public service, academia or applied research.
“Work is a central part of our lives, and finding policies that promote worker health, job satisfaction and productivity is critical for both individual and societal well-being,” he says.
Saunders came to the Institute in November 2008 from the Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN), where he was the vice-president of research. His own research at CPRN centred on vulnerable workers, the school-to-work transition, access and quality issues in post-secondary education, and skills development and training.
Prior to that, Saunders spent 17 years in the Ontario public service, most notably as the assistant deputy minister of policy, communications and labour management services in the Ministry of Labour. There, he was instrumental in developing policies related to employment standards and labour relations.
Saunders also spent time in the academic world, having taught at the University of Toronto and, in 2001/2002, at Queen’s University School of Policy Studies. He currently holds an appointment as associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto.
Bio Sketch
Dr. Ron Saunders is a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health, as well as the director of Knowledge Transfer & Exchange (KTE). He has a BA in economics from the University of Toronto and a PhD in economics from Harvard University.
Saunders’ current research interests include worker health in non-standard employment relationships; literacy and worker health and safety; the implications of demographic trends, such as an aging workforce and a continued high rate of immigration for occupational health and safety; and the impact of KTE activities/programs. He is also involved in identifying and disseminating the policy implications of IWH research for decision-makers.
Current Projects
Issue Briefings
Literacy and occupational health and safety training
Temporary work agencies
Older workers and occupational health and safety
Selected Publications
Lippel, K, MacEachen, E, Werhun, N, Saunders, R, Kosny, A, Mansfield, L, Carrasco, C, Pugliese, D. Legal protections governing occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation of temporary employment agency workers in Canada: Reflections on regulatory effectiveness. Policy and Practice in Work and Health (in press).
Picot, G, Saunders, R, Sweetman, A (Editors). Fulfilling potential, creating success: perspectives on human capital development. Kingston, ON, and Montreal, PQ: McGill-Queen’s University Press; 2007.
Saunders, R. Risk and opportunity: Creating options for vulnerable workers. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Policy Research Networks; 2006.