Dr Paula Holland

Senior Lecturer

Research Overview

My research focusses on: the relationship between work, disability and health; barriers to disabled people’s employment; and interventions to support disabled workers’ employment, including workplace adjustments. Disabled people have lower employment rates than non-disabled people, and are also more likely to be employed in insecure, lower-skilled and low-paid work. These employment inequities have severe consequences for their financial independence, health and wellbeing, and provide a mechanism for producing and exacerbating social inequalities in health.

I am leading the Inclusive Remote and Hybrid Working Study funded by the Nuffield Foundation, which explores how remote and hybrid working can be designed to be inclusive of disabled workers’ needs and preferences. Our interim report can be accessed here: Beyond the Office? How remote and hybrid working can help close the disability employment gap

I am a member of the Versus Arthritis/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work which aims to find cost-effective ways to reduce work disability among individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. I led a qualitative research for the Centre exploring the challenges disabled entrepreneurs face when establishing a business.

I am co-Investigator on the WORKWELL trial of job retention vocational rehabilitation for employed people with inflammatory arthritis.

I have also conducted qualitative research and evidence synthesis on the role of workplace adjustments and organisational policies in facilitating work retention for people with musculoskeletal disorders.

Disabled workers’ perceptions of the impact of remote and hybrid working on their health, employment, work-life balance and productivity.
Oral presentation

Transforming the workplace: disabled workers’ and employers’ perspectives on remote and hybrid working.
Oral presentation

Designing Inclusive Remote and Hybrid Working to Support Disabled Workers
Invited talk

Oral evidence testimony to All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment (Westminster)
Invited talk

E-modules on health and wellbeing for the World Class Manager Programme
Consultancy

Conference of the British Association of Brain injury and Complex Case Management: Keep up the Good Work
Invited talk

Vocational Rehabilitation Association conference on Employment Inclusivity
Invited talk

Amplifying Underrepresented Voices conference, University of Birmingham
Invited talk

British Sociological Association Work, Employment and Society conference
Oral presentation

Presentation to the Department for Work and Pensions: Future of Economy, Work and Skills
Invited talk

Accommodating Diversity in the Workplace Conference, University of Reading
Invited talk

British Sociological Association conference
Oral presentation

British Sociological Association 70th anniversary virtual conference 2021: Remaking the Future
Oral presentation

Well@Work Lancashire and South Cumbria: Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.
Invited talk

Time to Talk about Wellbeing at Work, 2019.
Invited talk

Panel Member for the debate on Closing the Disability Employment Gap
Invited talk

Arthritis Research UK (External organisation)
Membership of committee

Rachel Earnshaw

Rachel Earnshaw

PhD student

  • Centre for Health Inequalities Research
  • Centre for Organizational Health and Well Being