Welcome to IWER
How can work be improved—for both workers and organizations? That's a question central to the work of the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER).
IWER is a multidisciplinary and highly collaborative hub for the study of work and employment, housed at MIT Sloan but including researchers from other departments across MIT. IWER-affiliated scholars conduct and disseminate cutting-edge research that improves the lives of workers and their loved ones and that guides managers and policy makers in crafting a successful and inclusive future of work. On these webpages, you can find out more about IWER—our mission, activities, PhD program, weekly seminar series, courses, storied history, and more.
Interested in research on creating a better future of work? Sign up for IWER's newsletter.
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What's New at IWER
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Institute for Work and Employment Research Castilla Named Chair of the Academy of Management’s Organization and Management Theory Division
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Institute for Work and Employment Research Palak Shah Named IWER Senior Fellow
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Institute for Work and Employment Research Three Steps Managers Can Take to Empower Workers
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Institute for Work and Employment Research August IWER Newsletter: Worker Voice and Empowerment
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Institute for Work and Employment Research How Norwegian Businesses Respond to Increases in Unionization
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Institute for Work and Employment Research New Report Finds an Increasing Proportion of “Union Curious” Workers
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Institute for Work and Employment Research Three IWER Scholars Featured on “The Work Goes On” Podcast
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Institute for Work and Employment Research Erin Kelly Wins Award from the Work and Family Researchers Network
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Institute for Work and Employment Research Generative AI and Worker Voice
IWER
IWER History
The late Phyllis A. Wallace, a professor in MIT IWER, was a pioneer in researching the economics of discrimination in the labor market.
Learn More About IWER's HistoryIWER Activities
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Research Projects
IWER scholars are researching timely work-related topics-- ranging from reducing bias in organizational processes to amplifying employee voice in the workplace.
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PhD Program
IWER offers a world-renowned multidisciplinary PhD program in conjunction with the Behavioral and Policy Sciences faculty at MIT Sloan. We admit a small number of students and work closely with them.
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Seminar Series
IWER’s weekly seminar series, held on Tuesdays throughout the academic year, is one of the longest-running seminar series at MIT and features researchers from universities across the US and internationally.
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Publications
IWER faculty disseminate their research findings and ideas through a wide variety of media – from scholarly journal articles to op-ed columns and interviews.
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Resources for MBA Students
Interested in learning more about the human side of management while studying at MIT Sloan? Explore IWER's course guide for master's students.
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Resources for Managers
Decades of research at MIT and elsewhere have shown that some companies achieve good returns while paying workers more than their competitors do.
IWER'S Mission: Improving Work
Business, labor, and government policy leaders need to find ways to bring workers’ voices into the development, design, and use of new AI technologies so these new tools both drive innovation in responsible ways and improve the quality of jobs and employment opportunities.Read More