News

CGWR Releases New Research Report
The Center for Global Workers Rights (CGWR) has published a new research report. This research report is the latest in a series of reports by the center on retailer and brand purchasing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impacts on workers and supplier factories.

VLERA Webinar: Advancing Dispute Resolution By Understanding the Sources of Conflict
Our VLERA chapter is hosting a webinar, "Advancing Dispute Resolution by Understanding the Sources of Conflict" on August 19 at 8 p.m. During the presentation, Professor John W. Budd from the University of Minnesota will integrate scholarship from multiple disciplines to develop a multi-dimensional framework on the sources of conflict.

CIHRS Participates in New Webinar Series
The Center for International Human Resource Studies participated in the first in a series of webinars focusing specifically on international HRM topics. The series was organized by the Centre for Global Workforce Strategy at Simon Fraser University (Canada), CIHRS, and ESCP Business School in Europe. The next in the series is scheduled for September.

Faculty, grad students come together to help Centre County residents in need
Centre County COVID-19 Community Response, also known 4CR is “an informal organization that arose based on concerns over the pandemic. It’s about community members getting together to help each other.” The members include two LER professors: Dr. Rebecca Tarlau and Dr. Manuel Rosaldo.

May 2020 Acting Director's Update
The School of Labor and Employment Relations celebrates the class of 2020.

Faculty Feature: Q & A with Michael Maffie
Our newsletter features a faculty member question and answer section where you can learn more about our professors' research projects, ongoing studies, and hobbies! This month, get to know Assistant Professor of Labor and Employment Relations, Michael Maffie.

LER Grad Nick Bowers Signs With Las Vegas Raiders As Undrafted Free Agent
Bowers graduated in May 2019 from the School of Labor and Employment Relations.

CWP Webinar: Effective Mentoring
On April 1 at 8 p.m., Steven J. Greenblatt, Esq. and the CWP's own Michael Edenhart-Pepe, Ph.D., will discuss effective mentoring and ways to implement mentoring programs in organizations.

Director Paul Clark Visits Ton Duc Thang University
Director Paul Clark checks in from Vietnam during his sabbatical travels.

SHRM alignment for MS in HRER program renewed
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has acknowledged that the School of Labor and Employment Relations' Master of Science in Human Resources and Employment Relations (with HR Option) is now aligned with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.

Penn State adult learner and US Marine leads others in outdoor adventures
Labor and Employment Relations student Kyle Larson, a Penn State adult learner and a trip leader for Outdoor Adventures, a unit of Campus Recreation, discusses his influences at Penn State and his plans for his LER major.

February 2020 Acting Director's Update
Acting Director Elaine Farndale introduces some of the things that have been going on in the School since our last newsletter.

CWP Spring Webinar Series Continues March 4
The Center for Workplace Performance will host Dr. Joe Martocchio at 8 p.m. EST. The webinar will focus on "Recent Trends in Compensation and Benefits." Registration is required.

Faculty Feature: Q & A with Kameron Carter
Our newsletters feature a faculty member question and answer section where you can learn more about our professors' research projects, ongoing studies, and hobbies! This month, get to know Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management, Kameron Carter.

Grant Research takes LER Professor to Guatemalan Banana Plantations
Mark Anner, associate professor of labor and employment relations and director of the Center for Global Workers’ Rights, traveled to Guatemala in February for research as part of his work associated with a series of ongoing grants.

VLERA Webinar with presenter Michael Wasser: The Growth of Union Professionals
The School of Labor and Employment Relation's Virtual Chapter of LERA will be holding its first meeting/presentation for the spring semester. Presenter Michael Wasser is a former IUG student, a part-time online instructor, and Assistant to the President and Legislative Director for the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE).

Times of Radical Change: The Power Struggles behind the Hong Kong protests and the Bolivia Coup
On Wednesday, February 12 at 4 p.m., two Global Labor University graduate students will be presenting on recent events in Hong Kong and Bolivia.

Women Workers Film Festival Feb. 15-16
"Women Workers in Struggle: Organizing for Voice and Power around the Globe" will be held at Foster Auditorium on Penn State's University Park Campus.

Speaker Series: Richard Bales
As part of our Speaker Series, Professor Rick Bales (Professor of Law, Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern University) will be presenting "Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace," on Thursday, February 13th during our Common Hour (3:15 – 4:30 p.m.) in 502 Keller Building.

CWP Spring Webinar Series Begins Feb. 5
The Center for Workplace Performance will be presenting the first of three free webinars at 8 p.m. EST. The topic of the webinar is "Workplace Violence Protection." Register today to reserve a spot.

Do-As-You-Please Bus Trip Benefiting Centre County United Way
Join students, faculty and staff on a trip to Philadelphia or King of Prussia Mall on May 2. All processes from ticket sales benefit the Centre County United Way.

Hogan to Speak at 2020 Teaching and Learning with Technology Symposium
School of Labor and Employment Relations Professor of Practice Tom Hogan will be discussing his innovative approaches to student engagement and engaged scholarship.

Shamar Stokes selected as Forbes 30 under 30
Forbes Under 30 brings together entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to share ideas on how to make the world more efficient through entrepreneurship and starting businesses and nonprofits.

CGWR receives $200,000 grant for 2019-2020 academic year
The Center for Global Workers’ Rights received the grant from the Open Society Foundations to address challenges confronting vulnerable working groups in global supply chains.

Meet Your Labor and Employment Relations Change Maker Cory Steinle
Cory Steinle, a junior majoring in labor and employment relations and communication arts and sciences, had an idea to help other first-generation college students like himself through a peer-to-peer mentoring program.

Meet Your Labor and Employment Relations Change Maker Kylie Kuhns
Kylie Kuhns, a senior in labor and employment relations, has dedicated her life to serving others through THON, Kelsey’s Dream, the non-profit she started in memory of her sister, and even in the White House.

Mother Jones in Heaven – a musical by Si Kahn at the State Theatre on Nov. 3
Mother Jones in Heaven centers on the life of Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, and combines storytelling with musical theatre to bring her incredible story to audiences nationwide

Penn State alumnus commits $2 million to establish liberal arts scholarship
The James P. Osick Scholarship in the College of the Liberal Arts will help students from the Department of History or the School of Labor and Employment Relations who have demonstrated “outstanding performance or who bring special qualities and abilities to Penn State, with consideration being given to academic achievement, character, leadership qualities and financial need.”

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.