Dr Paula Holland

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 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.

Current and recent research includes:

• I am PI on a mixed methods study funded by the Nuffield Foundation on designing remote and hybrid working arrangements so that they are inclusive of disabled workers’ needs and preferences. This builds on a previous collaboration with the Work Foundation funded by City Bridge Trust;
• I am PI on a qualitative research funded by the Versus Arthritis/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work which explores the challenges disabled entrepreneurs face when establishing their businesses
• Co-Investigator on the WORKWELL trial of job retention vocational rehabilitation for employed people with inflammatory arthritis
• Qualitative research and evidence synthesis on the role of workplace adjustments and organisational policies in facilitating work retention for people with musculoskeletal disorders.