Workplace wellness and health promotion
The majority of working-aged people spend most of their waking hours at work. IWH research examines the impact of the work environment on worker health and wellbeing, as well as the effectiveness of workplace health and wellness promotion initiatives on workers’ physical activity and other health behaviours.
Featured
At Work article
Neighbourhood infrastructure such as bike paths, bus routes shape workers’ active commuting patterns
The built environments around where we work and live can play an important role in shaping our decision to walk, bike or take public transit to work. That's according to a joint study that examines Canadians' active commuting habits based on the social and built characteristics of their neighbourho
Published: April 29, 2026
IWH Speaker Series
Engaging employees in wellness: Insights from workplace champions
Published: October 21, 2025
IWH in the media
Too much standing is bad, study finds — it's time to move
People who stand for long periods at work may have another reason to join their seated colleagues in moving more. "There's a good body of research evidence that shows standing a lot is actually bad for your health," said Peter Smith, a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health.
Published: CBC, August 2017
Project
Project
Extended working life and its interaction with health, wellbeing and quality of life: a multi-country initiative (THRIVE)
Canada was one of four countries taking part in a multi-national study exploring policy approaches to extending the working lives of older people in a manner that is both effective and fair for all workers. IWH led the Canadian portion.
Status: Completed 2019
Research Highlights
Risk of heat- or cold-related illnesses across a broad population of Ontario workers
It's long been known that extreme temperatures can pose health hazards, from heat stress disorders to hypothermia and frost-bite. An IWH study found that a strong relationship exists between outdoor temperature and illness among the working population. And, as this study shows, it's not just in extreme temperatures that workers are at risk.
Published: March 2015
Project