Ushering in a New Era for The MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research

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MIT Sloan Professors Emilio J. Castilla and Erin L. Kelly are the new Co-Directors of the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER) as well as the new Faculty Directors of the Good Companies, Good Jobs Initiative at MIT Sloan, which is affiliated with IWER. In their new roles, Castilla and Kelly will work closely with Barbara Dyer, Senior Lecturer and Executive Director of the Good Companies, Good Jobs Initiative at MIT Sloan.

Kelly is the Sloan Distinguished Professor of Work and Organization Studies at MIT Sloan and is the coauthor, with Phyllis Moen, of the new book "Overload: How Good Jobs Went Bad and What We Can Do About It" (Princeton University Press, 2020). Castilla is the NTU Professor of Management and a Professor of Work and Organization Studies at MIT Sloan.

Castilla and Kelly describe the transition at IWER and their plans for the future in the following note:

Dear colleagues and friends,

We are truly excited to be stepping in as the new Co-Directors of the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research, effective June 2020. And what an honor this is! IWER has thrived for decades under the capable, wise, and caring leadership of Tom Kochan and Paul Osterman. Tom and Paul played an important role in sustaining and re-creating the IWER that many of you know, playing a key role at MIT and beyond to influence scholarship, policy, and practice regarding work and employment relationships. Since its establishment in 1937 (as the MIT Industrial Relations Section), IWER has conducted high-quality research devoted to the full range of issues related to work, labor and employment relations, human resource management, labor market issues, and related public policies.

Fortunately, Tom and Paul are not leaving us; they will continue as active members of the MIT Sloan faculty and as absolutely essential members of our IWER community. They have invited us to take on the formal leadership of IWER so they can devote themselves more fully to advising our Ph.D. students, to research and writing, and to influencing policy and practice at this critical moment.

Paul and Tom are a huge part of the reason that we both came to MIT and joined the IWER faculty and they have been inspirational mentors for both of us. We know that is true for many of you as well. Paul has always conducted path-breaking research around changes in work organizations, career patterns within firms, economic development, urban poverty, and public policy surrounding skills training and job quality. Furthermore, Paul is a generous advisor who will always find time to help you design and develop your research. He has served our community in many ways, including as deputy dean of MIT Sloan from 2003-2007. We will continue to count on Paul for his wise thoughts and reflections.

Tom’s influence on the industrial relations field has been enormous and he has been an important advisor to numerous MIT administrations as well. He continues to focus on the need to update America’s work and employment policies, institutions, and practices to catch up with a changing workforce and economy. Additionally, Tom embodies our sense of community on a daily basis and helps our students, faculty, staff, and other IWER friends connect with others so they can learn from many different stakeholders.

Paul and Tom are treasures, and we look forward to working closely with them for years to come to continue IWER’s work. We are also eager to imagine — together with all of you — what we will do to build on this vital legacy. We know IWER’s perspective is needed at MIT and in the larger world. We have a storied history in the field of work and employment, and we are confident that IWER will continue to address today’s critical questions about the world of work through our research, training of Ph.D. students, and public engagement.

At a time when income and wealth inequality have become major societal problems and even some business executives are questioning the concept of shareholder primacy, IWER’s multi-stakeholder approach to work and employment issues is more relevant than ever. At this historic moment, when a spotlight is shining again on the harsh realities of systemic racism and when race, ethnicity, gender, and age, as well as industry and occupation, affect the risks that workers face on the job, our rich research tradition of both policies and organizational practices can help direct the next steps society takes in business and policy.

Working together, IWER and its related initiative, the Good Companies, Good Jobs Initiative, have the expertise to influence the world of work in exciting ways. Our research, teaching, and public engagement hold up important questions such as: What does a fair and inclusive future of work look like? How can organizations provide good jobs and careers now and over the long term, while also competing successfully? What incentives, institutional structures, management practices, and public policies will help produce an inclusive future of work?

We are working closely with Barbara Dyer, the wonderful Executive Director of the Good Companies, Good Jobs Initiative at MIT Sloan, and with many IWER faculty, our Ph.D. students, and a number of MBA students with a passion for these topics to identify our priorities and articulate our vision. We are also talking with many people – at MIT Sloan and beyond – about how we can be more effective and have a broader reach.

We also want to hear from you. Please! One of the thrills of being part of IWER is our open and extensive community – of students, alumni, other scholars, and practitioners in all settings. Tell us what you are thinking, share with us what you are doing, and help us continue addressing today’s critical questions about the world of work through our research, training of Ph.D. students, and public engagement. We look forward to working with you to influence scholarship and practice related to work and employment, and, ultimately, to improve the quality of jobs and lives for all.

Do share your thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams (see our emails below or reach out by phone). We look forward to carrying forward the mission of IWER together.

All the best,

Emilio J. Castilla (ecastilla@mit.edu) and Erin L. Kelly (elkelly@mit.edu)