The objective of this environmental scan is to synthesize existing guidelines and recommended practices to prevent and manage work disability related to post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) in paramedic service organizations. Findings will contribute to informing the new Canadian Work Disability Management System Standard for Paramedics with a focus on the prevention and management of PTSI and mental illnesses.

The objective of this needs assessment was to determine gaps and challenges between the current and desired conditions for addressing post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) in paramedic service organizations.

WFH arrangements have risen substantially in an extremely short amount of time. WFH has been associated with several physical and mental health outcomes, however these health and safety issues often receive little resources and attention from a business and managerial perspective compared to organizational and worker performance and productivity. Therefore, aligning WFH practices and strategies with business goals of organizations may help catalyze awareness from decision makers and serve to effectively implement WFH policies.

Led by Conestoga College’s Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP) and in collaboration with La Trobe University in Australia, we surveyed Canadians across the country between October 27th and December 21st, 2020. During this time frame, there was an average of 5,270 new cases of COVID-19 per day in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2021b). Questions focused on respondents’ mental and physical health, and work-life conflict associated with their WFH experience. At the time of survey completion, over 90% of respondents were working full time hours in a WFH setting.

Canada’s economy lags behind many other nations in terms of productivity. It is projected that Canada’s productivity growth rate will be slower than many of its peers over the next thirty years. Addressing Canada’s productivity is a dynamically complex challenge, impacted by international, national and organizational factors. While governments hammer out trade agreements, tax and business policy regimes, there is much that individual organizations can and must do to address productivity improvement.