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Labor Policy and Research

 

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.

 

The Worker Institute's research, policy, and technical assistance program focuses on the innovative work led by faculty in our three key initiative areas:  Equity at Work, Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, and Precarious Work.

All these projects have been successful individually in advancing key policy recommendations and in developing partnerships with social justice advocates, elected officials, and policy stakeholders. 

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.

Labor Leading on Climate

See all of our work on Labor Leading on Climate

Labor Leading on Climate has brought together an impressive array of labor leaders in NY State to begin addressing climate change issues and their economic implications.

Estimating and Understanding Bridgeport Public School Emissions through a Carbon-Free Healthy Schools Tool

Researchers from the Labor Leading on Climate team in collaboration with Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs recently developed a geospatial dashboard to analyze Bridgeport Public School District environmental health issues while calculating potential emissions. This tool was made to support the Connecticut Carbon-Free Healthy School initiative.
Child doing homework
Estimating and Understanding Bridgeport Public School Emissions through a Carbon-Free Healthy Schools Tool

Labor Leading on Climate Team Participates on 350 Brooklyn Labor and Climate Panel

Labor Leading on Climate Associates participated in 350Brooklyn’s panel session, Labor and the Climate Movement: Challenges and Opportunities
350Brooklyn
Labor Leading on Climate Team Participates on 350 Brooklyn Labor and Climate Panel

Four policy recommendations for New York State to beat back inequality and climate change

Cornell’s Labor Leading on Climate research team makes recommendations for NYS policy intervention. It will not be easy to tackle climate change -- but New Yorkers don’t shy away from a fight. Reducing inequality and creating meaningful high-impact Climate Jobs through strategic planning and having strong labor standards.
Policies to beat back
Four policy recommendations for New York State to beat back inequality and climate change

Equity at Work

Learn more about Equity at Work

Equity at Work tackles difficult questions of gendered and racialized harassment, discrimination, and violence, examining their varied manifestations in different industries and workplaces.  

New study documents workplace sexual harassment and violence in California janitorial industry

Today, the Worker Institute at Cornell ILR released a new report that documents experiences of workplace sexual harassment in the California janitorial industry, as well as the conditions that hinder reporting and impose silence.
Women standing at a protest
New study documents workplace sexual harassment and violence in California janitorial industry

New Report: A High Road for Home Care

A ride-service program for homecare workers in Upstate New York during the pandemic provided substantial financial benefits and improved their quality of life, says a new report from the Worker Institute's Equity at Work Initiative.
Ruby Lovelist
New Report: A High Road for Home Care

New Report: New Yorkers Indicate That Retaliation Prevents Them From Exposing Workplace Dangers

Workers in NY are more likely than those in the rest of the country to feel pressure to refrain from reporting workplace problems such as sexual harassment and health and safety violations to avoid employer retaliation, according to analysis from the National Employment Law Project and the Worker Institute.
Sexual Harassment Complaint Form
New Report: New Yorkers Indicate That Retaliation Prevents Them From Exposing Workplace Dangers

Precarious Work

Learn more about Precarious Work

Precarious Work focuses on low-wage workers who are often without either collective representation or regulatory coverage; projects here include examining understudied areas of the “gig economy."

 

First of its kind industry report shows New York City’s App-based delivery workers experience harsh working conditions

Los Deliveristas / Worker's Justice Project and Cornell ILR’s Worker Institute released a new report titled, “Essential but Unprotected: App-based Food Couriers in New York City.” The report examines the harsh and unregulated working conditions of app-based delivery workers engaged by digital platforms.
Delivery Biker in New York City
First of its kind industry report shows New York City’s App-based delivery workers experience harsh working conditions

Washing for Dignity and Safety on the Job:  Workers in the NJ Retail Laundromat Industry

A new report by the Laundry Workers Center and the Cornell ILR Worker Institute examines the work and socio-economic conditions of workers in the retail laundromat industry in New Jersey.  
Cartoon about wage theft
Washing for Dignity and Safety on the Job:  Workers in the NJ Retail Laundromat Industry

On-Demand Platform Workers Denied Basic Rights

Worker Institute report details gig economy pressures on individuals and makes public policy recommendations.
Delivery Biker in New York City
On-Demand Platform Workers Denied Basic Rights

Reports and Publications

See all Worker Institute Reports and Publications

Texas Unions Launch Major Effort to Combat Climate Change, Tackle Inequality in US Energy Capital

A new report by climate and labor experts at Cornell University, Northeastern University, and Occidental College, in consultation with 27 Texas labor unions, accompanied the launch and outlays out a comprehensive climate jobs action plan to put Texas on the path to building an equitable clean-energy economy.
Man installing solar panels
Texas Unions Launch Major Effort to Combat Climate Change, Tackle Inequality in US Energy Capital

Combatting Climate Change, Reversing Inequality: A Climate Jobs Program for Texas

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate launches report that examines the crises of inequality and climate change in Texas and makes a series of “climate jobs” recommendations that can help Texas simultaneously combat climate change, create high-quality jobs, and build more equitable and resilient communities.
Tx Report
Combatting Climate Change, Reversing Inequality: A Climate Jobs Program for Texas

Making Care Systems More Equitable

In collaboration with the Gender Policy Report, researchers at the The Worker Institute co-authored a new report that provides guidance on several measures and principles they say should be built into any new child care, long-term care and health care investments in order to drive greater equity.
Exhausted Black nurse during COVID
Making Care Systems More Equitable

Events

See all Worker Institute Events

The Great Resignation: Why four million US workers a month are leaving their jobs

Patricia Campos-Medina, Executive Director of The Worker Institute at Cornell University, lists some of the factors contributing to this talent drain, among them dissatisfaction. “We have been through times of personal and financial anxiety."
Nurses in San Francisco protesting for better work conditions on November 10. JUSTIN SULLIVAN (AFP)
The Great Resignation: Why four million US workers a month are leaving their jobs

2021 Worker Institute Labor Roundtable

On Friday, November 12th, 2021, The Worker Institute is hosting the 2021 Labor Roundtable for ILR Students.
People protesting
2021 Worker Institute Labor Roundtable

Free Webinar: Health and Safety Issues of the Aging Workforce

Join us on Friday, November 12th, 2021 to learn about Health and Safety Issues of the Aging Workforce in your workplace.
Younger manager shoes an older worker something on the computer
Free Webinar: Health and Safety Issues of the Aging Workforce

Gig Companies Can’t Take Everyone for a Ride

Wall Street Journal
42% of food delivery workers say they've been underpaid, according to ILR's Worker Institute and the Workers Justice Project's study cited by The Wall Street Journal in wake of FTC warning to companies about unfair practices.
Gig Companies Can’t Take Everyone for a Ride

How low-wage workers are taking back power in the ‘Great Resignation’

Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University, said workers, even if not through formal unions, are demanding basic rights. “What we’re seeing is a fundamental shift in the relationship between service workers, low-wage service workers, and employers,” she said.
How low-wage workers are taking back power in the ‘Great Resignation’

Chuck Schumer Aims to Deliver Infrastructure Dollars to Help Food Couriers

The City NYC News
Nearly half said they’ve been in a crash while doing a delivery, according to the survey done by the Workers Justice Project and the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Chuck Schumer Aims to Deliver Infrastructure Dollars to Help Food Couriers

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