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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.

Join us: Equity in Focus: Building a Diverse, Inclusive Clean Energy Workforce

Join us on June 29, 2022 for the third webinar in a new series co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau and Cornell ILR Worker Institute. 
Union woman working on solar panels
Join us: Equity in Focus: Building a Diverse, Inclusive Clean Energy Workforce

Cunningham facilitates Offshore Wind Training for IUOE Local 30

Zach Cunningham, Extension Associate for the Worker Institute and Mariah Dignan, of Climate Jobs NY deliver a riveting presentation on Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind (OSW) to IUOE Local 30
IUOE Local 1
Cunningham facilitates Offshore Wind Training for IUOE Local 30

Podcast: Organized Labor Sees Promise in Transition to Clean Energy

Lara Skinner, Director of Labor Leading on Climate Initiative Cornell University ILR School spoke with The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy the University of Pennsylvania on a podcast: "Organized Labor Sees Promise in Transition to Clean Energy.
Image of Climate Jobs Banner
Podcast: Organized Labor Sees Promise in Transition to Clean Energy

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 low wages and precarity of nail salon workers in New York State despite recent legislation

“Unvarnished: Precarity and Poor Working Conditions for Nail Salon Workers in New York State,” highlights the challenges of raising standards in the nail salon industry and also calls attention to the role of worker organizing and advocacy in driving industry change.
Nail Salon Worker
New study documents low wages and precarity of nail salon workers in New York State despite recent legislation

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

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

Pricing Standards

The ILR Worker Institute released a report in April 2022 entitled Unvarnished: Precarity and Poor Working Conditions for Nail Salon Workers in New York State that detailed the poor working conditions and low wages that nail salon workers in New York State face.
Wage Salon
Pricing Standards

A New Report from The Worker Institute Outlines a Climate Jobs Agenda for Maine

A new report released today by climate and labor experts at Cornell University examines the intersecting crises and then offers a series of “climate jobs” recommendations for Maine.
Maine lighthouse
A New Report from The Worker Institute Outlines a Climate Jobs Agenda for Maine

Labor Action Tracker

In 2021 the ILR School began tracking the scope of labor unrest in the United States. Today, the Worker Institute and Cornell ILR School released the first ILR Labor Action Tracker Annual Report, which presents key findings on work stoppages for 2021.
map of United States with strike locations marked
Labor Action Tracker

Events

See all Worker Institute Events

Equity at Work Helping Expand Initiatives

The Worker Institute Equity at Work initiative supports domestic workers and their employers in improving workplace standards.
Nanny training graduation ceremony
Equity at Work Helping Expand Initiatives

Expanding Essential Unemployment Coverage in NYS Webinar

As our labor market changes, as our needs change and as new social risks arise, we need an unemployment compensation program to work in tandem with these changes
essential workers
Expanding Essential Unemployment Coverage in NYS Webinar

The Worker Institute is hiring!

Cornell Worker Institute is hiring!
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The Worker Institute is hiring!

When the pendulum of justice moves backward, your generation must resist it | A 2022 commencement essay

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In an open letter to the Class of 2022, Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute, says "You must be comfortable with the tension that exists between going along to get along or challenging the status quo."
When the pendulum of justice moves backward, your generation must resist it | A 2022 commencement essay

New Report Outlines Equitable Climate Action Plan for Rhode Island

Climate Jobs Rhode Island and Cornell University recently released a report outlining a climate jobs action plan to put Rhode Island on the path to meeting the state’s climate targets and building an equitable renewable energy economy.
New Report Outlines Equitable Climate Action Plan for Rhode Island

Labor and environmental coalition calls for R.I. to transition to a clean energy economy

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A report by Cornell University researchers details crises involving climate change, the pandemic, and inequality, recommends major public projects involving wind energy, schools, and electrical grid
Labor and environmental coalition calls for R.I. to transition to a clean energy economy

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