Enhancing programs and policies for injured workers with chronic pain in Canada

Nearly 8 million Canadians live with chronic pain, half of whom have lived with it for more than 10 years, and two-thirds of whom experience it as being moderate to severe. Living with chronic pain can affect all aspects of an individual’s life, and for working-age Canadians this includes aspects of their employment and their ability to take part in the workforce. Injured workers who develop chronic pain face unique challenges, and navigate three separate systems to access the supports they need to live with and manage their pain. These systems vary significantly across Canadian provinces and territories, meaning that where a worker gets hurt and develops chronic pain matters.