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

A seated woman with a clipboard in-hand speaks to a female client
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
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series

Deciding whether to share health information at work: A new evidence-based tool for workers with chronic conditions

Workers with chronic and episodic physical and mental health conditions often struggle when deciding whether to seek support from their workplace. In making decisions, they weigh risks like the loss of privacy or reputation if they disclose their needs, versus concerns about job difficulties and work performance if they don’t receive support. 
In this presentation, Dr. Monique Gignac focuses on the challenges inherent in the decision-making process. She also describes a new decision-support tool called DCIDE that aims to help workers navigate the complexity of disclosure decisions. Developed as part of a large research partnership with input from researchers, people with lived experiences, and health charities, DCIDE is an online, interactive tool that guides users through disclosure decisions and links them with additional resources to support their disclosure and privacy preferences.  
Published: November 2024
Journal article
Journal article

Understanding the employment landscape in people with systemic sclerosis

Published: Journal of Rheumatology, June 2024
Journal article
Journal article

Work-related suicide: evolving understandings of etiology & intervention

Published: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, June 2024
The Globe and Mail logo
IWH in the media

Thriving while sick: mentorship platform helps chronically ill workers navigate workplace issues

In an article about an online platform that connects adults with chronic illnesses with mentors, freelance reporter Sanam Islam cites IWH research on workers' reluctance to disclose their chronic illnesses to access workplace support.
Published: The Globe and Mail, April 2024
A seated woman with a clipboard in-hand speaks to a female client
Research Highlights

How do employment support programs impact the health of young adults with episodic disabilities?

The unpredictable and often invisible nature of episodic disabilities can make it challenging for workers to find and sustain employment while managing their fluctuating symptoms and work demands. For young adults navigating early career phases, these challenges may also have life-long impacts on their career progression and health. Researchers on an IWH study set out to investigate whether employment support programs for young adults with episodic disabilities may also impact their health.
Published: April 2024
Journal article
Journal article

The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness

Published: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, March 2024
Journal article
Journal article

Return-to-work experiences in Ontario policing: injured but not broken

Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, January 2024
Journal article