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.

The Worker Institute's research, policy, and technical assistance program focuses on the innovative work led by faculty in our two key initiative areas:  Equity at Work and Precarious Work. Equity at Work tackles difficult questions of gendered and racialized harassment, discrimination, and violence, examining their varied manifestations in different industries and workplaces.  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."

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.

There are three projects we are currently working on:  1. a longitudinal evaluation of the We Rise Nanny Training program 2. working on the design, implementation and administration of the ITASE demographic survey and 3. a qualitative research project to better understand the working conditions of Burmese refugees at mattress factories in NYS for NENYCOSH.