Workforce development
Funding agency: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Status: Ongoing
Project description: Work integration social enterprises (WISE) is a subset of social enterprises with a social mission to directly support vulnerable members of the community who face exclusion from the labour market. However, the impact of WISE on the social and labour market integration of Black and racialized persons is not currently known. In collaboration with community partners, CISWP leads a research project, which also consists of a longitudinal observational study, that assesses the extent to which social enterprises contribute to the social labour market integration of Black and racialized persons in Canada and evaluate impact related outcomes (e.g., improvement in employment-related mental health, wellbeing, socio-economic).
Funding agency: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Status: Ongoing
Project description: This project aims to support the continued economic development of local, rural, small communities which make up Waterloo Region through the creation of sustainable workforce development strategies and practical interventions. Through this project, CISWP will collaborate with small businesses, particularly in high-demand and/or significantly evolving sectors, and collaborate and support learners, jobseekers, and workers in developing and enhancing their skills to be successful in the ever-changing labour market. Research outcomes will focus on promoting the adoption of new technologies within businesses (particularly small and medium-sized) to improve safety, productivity, and performance.
Funding agency: Internal
Status: Completed
Project description: Working from home (WFH) became a necessary measure to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19. As the Canadian workforce continues to WFH, it is imperative that we understand the effects that WFH can have on mental and physical well-being. CIWSP led a nationwide survey aimed at understanding the mental and physical effects of WFH to identify how the health and well-being of the Canadian workforce can be protected. The results of this national survey informed the development of organizational strategies to prepare employers to create an effective, resilient, and inclusive WFH workplace.
Funding agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Status: Completed
Project description: Working from home (WFH) has been associated with several physical and mental health outcomes. However, from a business and managerial perspective, organizational and individual worker performance and productivity are powerful agendas that receive more resources and attention than are traditionally bestowed on health and safety issues. Aligning WFH with the business goals of organizations may help catalyze awareness from decision-makers and serve to implement WFH policies effectively. This study aimed to synthesize current knowledge on the impact of WFH arrangements on personal and organizational performance and productivity.
Funding agency: Internal
Status: Completed
Project description: According to Statistics Canada, one in five Canadians aged 15 and older had one or more disabilities in 2017. The annual cost of work disability is estimated to be very significant for employers and society as a whole. Reducing work disability is best achieved by targeting the barriers to work. This project aimed to develop and promote a work disability management system standard that helps increase the capacity of businesses to manage work disability prevention activities systematically. This multi-stakeholder initiative involved labour/worker representatives, employers, occupational health and safety organizations, academics, educators, government, injured workers, and disability groups.
Funding agency: CSA Group
Status: Completed
Project description: Impairment in the workplace could be due to fatigue, crises at home, substance use, caregiving responsibilities, experiences of sexual harassment, bullying, and others. Regardless of the cause, impairment in the workplace can raise several concerns, including increased costs, absenteeism, reduced productivity, workplace morale, as well as safety concerns. A voluntary standard was recently developed “to specify requirements and provide guidance on activities required to manage impairment in the workplace in accordance with principles consistent with occupational health and safety management systems.” Through this research project, CISWP aimed to understand the specific barriers across industries and business sizes to better support them in implementing the standard.
