Scheinman Faculty Reflect on a Busy Summer
For Scheinman Institute faculty, this summer was an extremely busy one, marked by active engagement with the labor relations community. At the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) conference, Institute faculty presented research, moderated panels, and shared their experiences in the field. The Institute also continued to host Labor Arbitration Institute (LAI) conferences, where labor and management representatives could hear directly from arbitrators.
The Scheinman Institute’s deep involvement in the labor relations field was particularly evident at this summer’s LERA conference. LERA brings together professionals from across the labor relations community, including academics, practitioners, and neutrals, providing them opportunities to learn from their peers. According to Harry Katz, the Jack Sheinkman Professor and Scheinman Institute Director, the LERA conference has historically been academically oriented. Katz, who has attended the conference since he was a PhD student, noted the shift to emphasize interactions between academics and practitioners. For Katz, the conference provided an ideal setting for turning plans into action. Reflecting on the conversations he had during the conference, Katz said, “It's one thing to talk about this stuff over the Internet. It's another thing to sit down and talk through how we could make it a reality.”
The emphasis on collaboration and discussion was also evident in Javier Ramirez’s experience at the conference. During his time at the conference, Ramirez, the executive manager of the National Conflict Resolution Service (NCRS), served as a panelist and moderator. As a panelist, he incorporated perspectives from both management and labor. As a moderator, he emphasized genuine conversation. According to Ramirez, “I was provoking them to engage. If somebody said something, you don't have to be rude, but don't be polite and just agree to agree to keep the panel smooth. If somebody says something that you have a different view on or that you don't agree with, let's talk about that.”
This exchange of perspectives also extended to the research presented by the Institute’s faculty. Duanyi Yang, assistant professor of Global Labor and Work and affiliated faculty with the Scheinman Institute, presented two papers at the conference. The first, presented with Tingting Zhang, professor at the University of Pittsburgh, examines how men and women respond differently to China's tech industry’s culture of extreme overtime. Yang’s second paper, with Brittany Bond, assistant professor of organizational behavior at ILR, and Sunita Suh, professor at the SC Johnson School of Business, examines how organizations can reduce burnout, focusing on veterinary clinics in the United States. Though the studies exist in different contexts, Yang says, “I see a strong connection between them. Both ask how the way work is organized shapes workers’ ability to respond to difficult working conditions.” Yang’s research was also recognized with the John T. Dunlop Award, which, according to LERA, commends “outstanding academic contributions to research by recent entrants” to the field.
For Sarah Miller Espinosa, J.D., senior mediation & arbitration associate at the Scheinman Institute, the conference aligned with the Institute’s broader emphasis on mentorship and training. Espinosa participated in a panel on arbitrator training and development, alongside Professor Homer La Rue, her mentor during the Labor Arbitrator Development Program (LADP), and Dr. John Coverdale, her mentee through the LADP. According to Espinosa, “it was a nice opportunity for all of us to see each other and to be able to see how Homer mentoring me, meant I could mentor John.”
The strong presence of Scheinman faculty at the LERA conference reflects the Institute’s role in the labor relations field. According to Katz, Scheinman faculty being “asked to participate in workshops or to chair workshops” is a sign that “our faculty, both resident and extension faculty … are doing cutting edge research.”
In addition to the LERA conference, Scheinman Institute faculty hosted LAI conferences around the country. Ellen Gallin Procida, the faculty lead for LAI, recently took on the role of moderator at the conferences. According to Gallin Procida, the Institute’s addition of LAI “brings a new audience to the Scheinman Institute” introducing more people to the Institute and providing them with opportunities to engage with its programs. At the same time, the Institute brings a new network of people to the LAI conferences, creating opportunities for new connection, education, and perspectives. Reflecting on the first few months following the LAI acquisition, Gallin Procida said that the LAI is “a perfect match” for the Scheinman Institute.
The Institute’s engagement at the LERA and LAI conferences demonstrates the breadth of commitment by the Institute. From discussing research and fostering connections to developing future practitioners, the Scheinman Institute faculty continue to contribute and engage with the field.
