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
IWH Speaker Series
Using cannabis to manage symptoms of work-related injuries: Experiences of injured workers in Ontario
Published: February 24, 2026
At Work article
Inclusive employment strategies, resources showcased at symposium
Published: November 12, 2025
Journal article
Journal article
Are there differences in workplace accommodation needs, use and unmet needs among older workers with arthritis, diabetes and no chronic conditions? Examining the role of health and work context
Published: Work, Aging & Retirement, June 2018
IWH in the media
Work-focused CBT can help depressed employees remain on the job
A new review by the Institute of Work & Health has found that while generic cognitive behavioural therapy can help keep employees with symptoms of depression remain at work, it doesn’t have an effect on helping them return to their jobs. The review found, however, that work-focused cognitive behavioural therapy can help depressed employees both stay at work and return to their jobs after being absent due to depression.
Published: Benefits Canada, May 2018
At Work article
IWH’s new guide on supporting workers with depression integrates research with practice
Awareness is growing about the toll that depression can have on the workplace, but many are still unsure how to support workers and colleagues experiencing depression. To fill the knowledge gap, an IWH team has looked to the research literature, as well as current practices, to produce a guide.
Published: April 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Supporting arthritis and employment across the life course: a qualitative study
Published: Arthritis Care & Research, March 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Gender/sex differences in the relationship between psychosocial work exposures and work and life stress
Published: Annals of Work Exposures and Health, March 2018
Tools and guides
Evidence-informed guide to supporting people with depression in the workplace
This evidence-based guide is designed for anyone in the workplace who supports workers with depression as they cope with their symptoms while working, or when they are returning to work following an episode of depression.
Published: March 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Journal article
The role of sex, gender, health factors, and job context in workplace accommodation use among men and women with arthritis
Published: Annals of Work Exposures and Health, February 2018
At Work article
Family members play important but unacknowledged role in injury aftermath
When someone gets injured, family members often rally to help with chores, shoulder the child- or elder-care burden and cope with the financial impact. The support family members provide in the aftermath of an injury runs the gamut and needs to be acknowledged, according to a study in Australia.
Published: February 2018
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Systematic review of workplace interventions to manage depression
By the year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. What effective intervention approaches for managing depression can workplaces offer to help employees either stay at work while experiencing symptoms, or return to work after a depression-related absence? In this presentation, an Institute for Work & Health team share findings from a recent systematic review of the scientific literature on this question.
Published: January 2018