Intact Financial Corporation announced a $2 million donation Wednesday to support research on workplace well-being and inclusion at the University of Ottawa’s Triple I Lab.
The five-year partnership allocates $1.75 million to the lab’s research program focusing on workplace mental health, employees with invisible disabilities, and strategies to enhance belonging in organizational settings.
“All organizations big and small must prioritize the well-being of their staff to thrive over the long-term,” said Jacques Frémont, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Ottawa.
Research with practical applications
The Triple I Lab, co-founded by a women-led research team in 2024, is equipped with observational technology designed to study and simulate workplace interactions. Researchers aim to develop evidence-based approaches organizations can implement to improve inclusive practices.
“By asking critical research questions and developing evidence-based insight into how organizations can improve their inclusive practices, our lab aims to have a real impact on how organizations operate in Canada and beyond,” said Jane O’Reilly, director and co-founder of the Triple I Lab.
Located in the university’s Desmarais building, the lab is among Canada’s largest behavioral research facilities and explores how workplace environments affect employee well-being.
Corporate investment in workplace health
For Intact Financial, Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer, the investment aligns with their corporate objectives around employee engagement and workplace culture.
“Supporting the Triple I Lab’s research is close to our hearts because we genuinely care about the well-being of our employees – and the well-being of all Canadians,” said Louis Gagnon, Intact Canada CEO.
The remaining $250,000 of the donation will support scholarships and other priorities at the Telfer School of Management.
Training next generation of workplace leaders
The lab will train students at various academic levels who represent future managers and workplace leaders, according to Silvia Bonaccio, vice-dean of research at the Telfer School of Management.
“It is our intention to equip them with tools that allow them to implement the best practices of inclusion in their own workplaces,” said Bonaccio, who also serves as a co-founder of the lab.
Stéphane Brutus, dean of the Telfer School of Management, emphasized the importance of research-informed workplace practices.
“We are grateful for Intact and Louis’s leadership in supporting workplace well-being because there is a profound need for data-driven insights to guide decision-making and strategy in this ever-evolving world,” said Brutus.
