Paula Holland

Dr. Paula Holland is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health Research at Lancaster University, part of the Faculty of Health and Medicine (FHM). Her research focuses on the intersection of work, disability, and health, addressing barriers to disabled employment and interventions to support workers with chronic illnesses. She leads the Nuffield Foundation-funded Inclusive Remote and Hybrid Working Study, exploring equitable workplace design for disabled employees. As a member of the Versus Arthritis/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, she investigates policies to reduce work disability among individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. She co-leads the WORKWELL trial on vocational rehabilitation for inflammatory arthritis patients.

Her teaching includes convening the Principles of Research Design module for PhD students in blended learning programs. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and actively contributes to editorial roles at the Disabilities journal. Dr. Holland’s work spans qualitative research on workplace adjustments, chronic illness impacts, and gender/social inequalities in health. She advises on policies to bridge the disability employment gap and frequently presents at conferences on topics like hybrid working inclusivity and musculoskeletal health.

Key projects include the Inclusive Remote and Hybrid Working Study (2023–2025) and the WORKWELL trial (2018–2021), with ongoing collaborations in health inequities research. Her activities include advisory roles for the Department for Work and Pensions and contributions to initiatives like the Amplifying Underrepresented Voices conference.

Dr. Holland’s research emphasizes translating evidence into actionable policies, such as her interim report Beyond the Office?, which highlights hybrid work’s potential to improve disabled workers’ employment outcomes. She also explores challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs and the role of organizational policies in supporting long-term workplace retention.