Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Socioeconomic status (SES) has been found to play a role in return to work (RTW) after occupational injuries, with lower SES linked to poorer RTW outcomes. Workplace compensation policies also play a role in worker RTW outcomes after workplace injuries, for example compensation is linked to increased disability and decreased likelihood of return to work, as well as other poor health outcomes. However, there is little research examining if workplace compensation policies can mitigate the negative impact of lower SES on RTW. Because compensation claims involving musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) are common, associations between the compensation system and return to work following MSIs are of great interest. MSIs are the leading causes of workplace compensation claims, and globally, low back pain and neck pain are among the leading causes of years lived with disability. My research will examine the impact of socioeconomic status on RTW following MSIs within two different workplace compensation systems: the system in Victoria, Australia, and the system in Ontario, Canada. I will use existing data from WorkSafe, a workplace compensation provider in the Australian state of Victoria, as well as from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in Ontario. Data collected at the time of the claim includes injury-related symptoms, type of injury, and sociodemographic information such as income, educational level, and occupational status. Information on RTW is available based on the termination of income compensation payments. This research will provide insight into how SES and the compensation system together impact injury recovery, and how practices and policies can be altered to improve the health and vocational outcomes of Canadians.