November 2021

Burnout, stress risk increases greatly when psychosocial work conditions are bad overall

For one in 10 Canadian workers, the psychosocial work environment is poor across the board. For example, they lack job security, have unmanageable workloads, receive little supervisor support, and so on. What’s more, their working conditions are associated with a substantial increase in risk of burnout and stress—seven and nine times greater risk, respectively, than among workers with good psychosocial working conditions. This is according to a new study by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW).

Read about the study

Webinar: Charting the long-term financial hit of having depression

How much of an impact can a depressive episode have on someone’s work earnings? IWH Associate Scientist Dr. Kathleen Dobson has conducted a study to answer this question. On November 9, she shares findings from her novel study in an IWH Speaker Series presentation.

Sign up for webinar

New infographic underlines key RTW differences between mental, physical injuries

Much of what we know about the return-to-work (RTW) process is based on workers’ compensation claims involving physical injuries. For people with mental health claims, the picture is very different. A new IWH infographic points out key disparities based on research conducted by the Institute.

See the infographic and get the background research

Grant round-up takes a look at some research projects under way at IWH

From opioid-related harms among workers, to post-traumatic stress injury support for first responders—find out about some of the new research projects under way at the Institute.

Read about the new studies

Estimating the economic benefits of a fully inclusive Canada

Despite progress to date, persons with disabilities still face discrimination and other barriers to full participation in society. They have lower employment rates, lower earnings, lower education attainment, higher poverty rates and higher health-care use. What would be the economic benefits if these barriers were removed? An IWH study set out to estimate the economic benefits of a fully inclusive Canada.

Learn what it found

Webinar hosted by CRE-MSD and partners examines hybrid work environments

Join the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) and partner organizations on November 30 for a presentation on the challenges and opportunities of hybrid work. Dr. Maral Babapour from Sweden shares her research, based on employee perceptions in Sweden’s public sector, in a webinar entitled “Transitioning out of the pandemic: Expected work environment challenges and opportunities in a hybrid work era.” The takeaways will have relevance for staff managers and employees, ergonomists and human factors experts, and others such as workplace designers, architects, and facility and corporate real estate managers.

Get more details

Uyen Vu
Senior Communications Associate
613-979-7742
uvu@iwh.on.ca