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About the Institute

The Worker Institute at Cornell engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues, to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of the Worker Institute is that collective representation and workers' rights are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society.

Worker Institute

Core Offerings

The Worker Institute serves as a hub for policy research, publication, and training for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and activists engaged in the public debate to reduce economic inequality.

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Student Engagement

Student Engagement

The Worker Institute at Cornell is committed to engaging Cornell ILR undergraduate and graduate students through our coursesresearch fellowshipsgraduate programs, and other professional development opportunities.

 

Students on international experience trip
Learn more about our work with students.

In the News

Media Mentions

The Hidden Cost of Convenience: How NYC’s Delivery App Economy Exploits Workers While Promising Innovation

WebProNews
A report from ILR’s Worker Institute is referenced in this article about how delivery apps contribute to problems faced by gig workers in New York City’s food delivery industry.
The Hidden Cost of Convenience: How NYC’s Delivery App Economy Exploits Workers While Promising Innovation

More Gig Workers Could See Rights Without Status Change

Law 360
Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute, suggests next steps for protecting the labor rights of gig workers, following recent changes in New York City to how grocery delivery workers are compensated and food delivery platforms encourage tipping.
More Gig Workers Could See Rights Without Status Change

Blogcast #113: Stories of Belonging and Worker Power

Power at Work
In this blogcast, Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of ILR’s Worker Institute, explores migration, belonging, worker power and the everyday people shaping the future of immigrant worker justice with Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Seth Harris.
Blogcast #113: Stories of Belonging and Worker Power

Tech Life: Web-scraping bots

BBC News
Zoë West, extension associate at ILR’s Worker Institute, discusses AI in the fashion industry on this BBC audio program.
Tech Life: Web-scraping bots

Models Feel Hemmed in by AI

Cornell Chronicle
Using generative AI, fashion designers can use digital photos to adjust models’ features and even deploy fully digital avatars in place of humans. A team including an ILR School researcher has written a paper highlighting models’ challenges.
Models Feel Hemmed in by AI

Schneps Media’s 2025 Leaders of Labor to honor top professionals in labor community

AM NY
Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of ILR’s Worker Institute, is mentioned as a 2025 Schneps Media Leaders of Labor awardee; the award, which recognizes members of the labor community and the organizations that support them, will be presented on Oct. 8 at Terrace on the Park in Queens, New York.
Schneps Media’s 2025 Leaders of Labor to honor top professionals in labor community

“Labor in New York in 2026” Presented in Albany

Experts from the ILR School met with Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson, New York State Chairs of the Committee on Labor, to discuss the current state of labor in New York.
Esta Bigler presents to Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson in Albany.
“Labor in New York in 2026” Presented in Albany

Regenerative Organizing

Regenerative organizing builds long-term power by restoring our capacity, relationships, and imagination—rather than depleting them. This cohort is designed for leaders who want to deepen their member leadership, strengthen organizing capacity, and address the stress and trauma embedded in the work.
Group of women with raised hands to hold an item above their heads together. "Regenerative Organizing"
Regenerative Organizing

Empowering Workers, Building Leaders

On October 9, 2025, thirty participants celebrated their graduation from the first Housekeeping Technician and Leadership Development Workshop Series, a collaborative training effort between Labor Leadership Initiatives at Cornell’s ILR School and the Worker Justice Project (WJP).
WJP Graduation. Cleaning technicians 2
Empowering Workers, Building Leaders

Lois Gray Innovation Initiative 

Lois Gray, ILR School faculty member

 

The Lois Gray Innovation Initiative was founded by labor pioneer Lois Gray to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy, and society.

The Lois Gray Innovation Fund provide financial incentives for collaboration between resident and extension faculty in relation to priority programs of The Worker Institute.

It ensures faculty, researchers and students have the opportunity to fulfill the institute’s mission of advancing worker rights and collective representation.

Explore the initiative