News
California Says Uber Drivers Are Employees. Now What?
Last night, the California Senate passed a piece of legislation codifying the “ABC test,” a more stringent standard that employers must meet to classify workers as independent contractors. While this bill will affect many workers across California, one of the most notable effects will come in the so-called “gig” economy.
Penn State LER Faculty Present at the ASA
The American Sociological Association recently held its 114th Annual Meeting, “Engaging Social Justice for a Better World,” from August 10-13th in New York City. A number of LER faculty shared their research and participated in a variety of sessions.
There is a Crisis in Pennsylvania Nursing Homes. And We Need to Address It. Now.
Attention baby boomers. There is a crisis in our state and you better start paying attention to it. The entire nursing home sector in Pennsylvania recently scored an “F” in quality in a report based on data reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a Federal government agency. And sixteen nursing homes in the state made the list of the 400 worst nursing homes in the nation.
4th Global Conference on International Human Resources Management Held at Penn State
A conference encouraging broadening the knowledge of international human resource management, the 4thGlobal Conference on International Human Resources Management, was held May 9-11 in the Chambers Building at University Park. This continues the now biennial tradition of running this conference since 2013. Organized by the Center for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS), an initiative from the School of Labor and Employment Relations, conference attendees included more than sixty scholars from eighteen countries whose research focuses on the field of international human resource management (IHRM).
Assistant Professor, Michael Maffie, Weighs in on Recent Uber and Lyft Driver Strikes
In the past year, ‘gig’ economy workers around the world have engaged in strikes and other labor actions. Ridehail drivers on multiple continents organized collective work stoppages. Deliveroo riders organized for better pay and workplace protections. Instacart workers signed an online petition calling for pay protections and more control over their work. Worker organizations have formed unions or collectives in the UK, New York, Seattle, and elsewhere. Although the ‘gig’ economy was promised to a future of work without bosses and greater worker ‘flexibility,’ growing global labor unrest reveals serious problems in the ‘gig’ economy as its currently designed. What is driving these protests? What can policymakers, unions, and HR specialists do to improve labor conditions in the ‘gig’ economy?
Alumna Jacquelin L Brova ('75) honored with Outstanding Liberal Arts Alumni Award
Jacquelin L Brova (1975, labor studies) received the Outstanding Liberal Arts Alumni Award. Brova retired following a 40-year career as an executive human resources professional for the mining, steel and consumer products industries. Before her retirement, Brova served as executive vice president of global human resources for Church & Dwight Co., a publicly traded S&P 500 consumer products company. There, she led a global team responsible for leadership development, talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, HRIS, employee relations, and employee communications, and she worked closely with the board of directors on executive compensation and governance matters.
Hui presents work on Labor Struggles and International Solidarity in China
Dr. Elaine Hui, assistant professor for the School of Labor and Employment Relations, was invited to speak at recent event entitled “Labour Struggles and International Solidarity in China.” The event was organized by the Made in China Journal in conjunction with the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) Conference in Denver, Colorado from March 21 to 24.
The LABOR School at Penn State and Allegheny-Fayette CLC Launch Educational Programs for Unions in Southwest PA
On March 22, nearly fifty union members from a dozen local unions in Southwest Pennsylvania gathered at the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers Hall for a forum entitled, “Strategies for a New Labor Landscape: Strengthening Member Commitment,” hosted by The Labor School at Penn State, the Allegheny-Fayette CLC, and the PA AFL-CIO.
Tylar Smith selected as student marshal for labor and employment relations
Tylar Smith has been selected as the student marshal to represent the School of Labor and Employment Relations for the Penn State College of Liberal Arts spring 2019 commencement at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, in the Bryce Jordan Center. She will be escorted by Rebecca Cianci, associate profess of labor and employment relations.