Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Introduction Over the past decades a growing minority of workers report to have multiple jobs. In 2016, 5.3% of the Canadian labour force were registered as employed multiple jobholder (MJH). Having more than one job increases a worker's risk of injury due to multiple exposures and long work days. In contrast, being a MJH is related to lower sickness absence rates compared to workers with one job. This suggests that MJHs may have a higher absence taking threshold. The effect of working multiple jobs on work absence has not been explored yet. In the current study, we examine the association between multiple jobholding and return-to-work for workers with a work-related musculoskeletal disorder. We focus on these disorders because the impact on disability for the aging workforce, employers and society is significant. Methods We identified 125 647 single jobholders (SJH) and 9 030 MJHs with an accepted work-related musculoskeletal disorder lost-time claim filed between 2010 and 2014 in British Columbia. We matched SJHs and MJHs based on demographic and work-related characteristics to estimate the impact of having more than one job on return to work after injury. This matching strategy resulted in 6 780 MJHs and SJHs pairs. Results Preliminary results show that 78.8% of the MJHs return to work one year after the first time-loss day, while this is 85.5% of the SJHs. In particular, MJHs with fractures and spinal injuries have a much lower chance to return to work compared to other SJHs with the same injury. Also, especially male MJHs have a lower chance to return to work compared to male SJHs. Conclusion MJHs in Canada have an increased risk of injury and a decreased chance to return to work after a musculoskeletal disorder. This is an understudied vulnerable group of workers that needs attention from employers, workers compensation systems, and researchers to better understand why these differences appear and how we can reduce work disability for MJHs.