MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
@mitiwer.bsky.social
IWER is a multidisciplinary hub for the study of work & employment, housed at the MIT Sloan School of Management but including researchers from other parts of MIT. Learn more: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/institute-work-and-employment-research/about-iwer
“There’s public interest at stake here. We want to encourage employees, and certainly those who represent employees, to speak honestly and candidly on issues of concern to the workforce and the people they serve.”--Tom Kochan @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/y4xfsjzx
‘Squashing people’s voices’: Boston federal worker who decried SNAP cuts on MSNBC now faces firing by Trump administration - The Boston Globe
A USDA employee in Boston says the Trump administration is retaliating against her for speaking out.
tinyurl.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM
“There’s public interest at stake here. We want to encourage employees, and certainly those who represent employees, to speak honestly and candidly on issues of concern to the workforce and the people they serve.”--Tom Kochan @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/y4xfsjzx
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
I *highly* recommend @brankomilan.bsky.social and @laywilliams.bsky.social superb books on the history of thought on economic inequality.
And if you want to see them discussing these topics, with @undercoverhist.bsky.social @johncassidysays.bsky.social and myself, video below.
And if you want to see them discussing these topics, with @undercoverhist.bsky.social @johncassidysays.bsky.social and myself, video below.
The Stone Centre Inequality Dialogue recap & full replay are now live. Huge thanks to @brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social & @annastansbury.bsky.social for your contributions & to all who joined us. Recap: bit.ly/Dialogue-recap
November 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I *highly* recommend @brankomilan.bsky.social and @laywilliams.bsky.social superb books on the history of thought on economic inequality.
And if you want to see them discussing these topics, with @undercoverhist.bsky.social @johncassidysays.bsky.social and myself, video below.
And if you want to see them discussing these topics, with @undercoverhist.bsky.social @johncassidysays.bsky.social and myself, video below.
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
Last was a star-studded panel on inequality in the history of economic & political thought at @stoneeconucl.bsky.social w/@brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social & @annastansbury.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5N_... (6/6)
Stone Centre Dialogue on Inequality in the History of Economic and Political Thought
YouTube video by Stone Centre at UCL
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Last was a star-studded panel on inequality in the history of economic & political thought at @stoneeconucl.bsky.social w/@brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social & @annastansbury.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5N_... (6/6)
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
Calling anyone interested in inequality and why so many economists ignored it for so long!
Watch here for the illuminating thoughts of @brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social,
@undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social
Thanks to Wendy Carlin for asking me to moderate.
Watch here for the illuminating thoughts of @brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social,
@undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social
Thanks to Wendy Carlin for asking me to moderate.
The Stone Centre Inequality Dialogue recap & full replay are now live. Huge thanks to @brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social & @annastansbury.bsky.social for your contributions & to all who joined us. Recap: bit.ly/Dialogue-recap
November 12, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Calling anyone interested in inequality and why so many economists ignored it for so long!
Watch here for the illuminating thoughts of @brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social,
@undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social
Thanks to Wendy Carlin for asking me to moderate.
Watch here for the illuminating thoughts of @brankomilan.bsky.social, @laywilliams.bsky.social,
@undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social
Thanks to Wendy Carlin for asking me to moderate.
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
"Three Key Takeaways" from the outstanding @stoneeconucl.bsky.social dialogue on inequality in the history of economic and political thought. With @brankomilan.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social, and @undercoverhist.bsky.social.
Stone Centre Online Inequality Dialogue: Three key takeaways
The discussion centred on the tension between philosophical and economic approaches to inequality, and the shift from historical concerns to modern data-driven analysis.
www.stone-econ.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:52 PM
"Three Key Takeaways" from the outstanding @stoneeconucl.bsky.social dialogue on inequality in the history of economic and political thought. With @brankomilan.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social, and @undercoverhist.bsky.social.
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility?: Lyttelton, Thomas; Nelson, Dylan; Wilmers, Nathan
NEP/RePEc link
to paper
d.repec.org
October 18, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility?: Lyttelton, Thomas; Nelson, Dylan; Wilmers, Nathan
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility?: Lyttelton, Thomas; Nelson, Dylan; Wilmers, Nathan
NEP/RePEc link
to paper
d.repec.org
September 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility?: Lyttelton, Thomas; Nelson, Dylan; Wilmers, Nathan
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
Congratulations to ASA members & 2025 AAAS inductees Nancy T. Ammerman @ntammerman.bsky.social, John B. Diamond @johndiamondphd.bsky.social, Charles M. Payne (Rutgers), Walter W. Powell @stanford.edu, Susan S. Silbey @mitiwer.bsky.social & Celeste M. Watkins-Hayes @umich.edu
October 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Congratulations to ASA members & 2025 AAAS inductees Nancy T. Ammerman @ntammerman.bsky.social, John B. Diamond @johndiamondphd.bsky.social, Charles M. Payne (Rutgers), Walter W. Powell @stanford.edu, Susan S. Silbey @mitiwer.bsky.social & Celeste M. Watkins-Hayes @umich.edu
What happens when manufacturing companies regularly incorporate worker feedback and ideas into their production processes? Productivity is generally higher—and so is production worker pay. New findings from Dylan Nelson of UIUC & @natewilmers.bsky.social @mitiwer.bsky.social:
tinyurl.com/4vhswpvr
tinyurl.com/4vhswpvr
The Effects of Worker Voice on Manufacturing Pay and Productivity | MIT Sloan
New research finds that when manufacturing companies regularly incorporate worker feedback and ideas, both productivity and worker pay are generally higher.
tinyurl.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:39 PM
What happens when manufacturing companies regularly incorporate worker feedback and ideas into their production processes? Productivity is generally higher—and so is production worker pay. New findings from Dylan Nelson of UIUC & @natewilmers.bsky.social @mitiwer.bsky.social:
tinyurl.com/4vhswpvr
tinyurl.com/4vhswpvr
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
New WP: We study how minimum wage increases affect poverty and food hardship in the U.S from 1981-2019. Different from recent work, we study the Supplemental Poverty Measure + two measures of food hardship, factor in cost-of-living differences, and more. www.iza.org/publications...
September 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM
New WP: We study how minimum wage increases affect poverty and food hardship in the U.S from 1981-2019. Different from recent work, we study the Supplemental Poverty Measure + two measures of food hardship, factor in cost-of-living differences, and more. www.iza.org/publications...
How Meritocracy Can Backfire--and 5 Steps to Address That: Highlights of the new book "The Meritocracy Paradox" by MIT Sloan Professor Emilio J. Castilla, Co-Director of @mitiwer.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4ybsd3xj
How Meritocracy Can Backfire — and Five Steps to Address It | MIT Sloan
A new book by MIT Sloan professor Emilio J. Castilla offers managers and leaders a practical, data-driven roadmap for building fairer and more effective talent management systems.
tinyurl.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
How Meritocracy Can Backfire--and 5 Steps to Address That: Highlights of the new book "The Meritocracy Paradox" by MIT Sloan Professor Emilio J. Castilla, Co-Director of @mitiwer.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4ybsd3xj
Congratulations to Tom Kochan @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social & Adam Seth Litwin and Ariel Avgar, both of @cornellilr.bsky.social! They have won an @equitablegrowth.bsky.social grant to study the effects of worker input on #AI strategies at @KaiserPermanente: tinyurl.com/mrybem8x
Bringing Worker Voice into the Development, Design, and Use of AI: A Case Study of the Labor Management Partnership at Kaiser Permanente
As AI transforms health care, workers must have a say in its development, design, and implementation to ensure fair outcomes for both employees and patients. The proposed study examines the Labor Mana...
tinyurl.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Congratulations to Tom Kochan @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social & Adam Seth Litwin and Ariel Avgar, both of @cornellilr.bsky.social! They have won an @equitablegrowth.bsky.social grant to study the effects of worker input on #AI strategies at @KaiserPermanente: tinyurl.com/mrybem8x
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
For their project, #EGgrantee(s) Adam Seth Litwin & Ariel Avgar of @cornellilr.bsky.social sky.social, along with Thomas Kochan of @mitiwer.bsky.social will use a case study to assess whether jointly negotiated AI strategies improve job quality and patient care.
equitablegrowth.org/grants/bring...
equitablegrowth.org/grants/bring...
September 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
For their project, #EGgrantee(s) Adam Seth Litwin & Ariel Avgar of @cornellilr.bsky.social sky.social, along with Thomas Kochan of @mitiwer.bsky.social will use a case study to assess whether jointly negotiated AI strategies improve job quality and patient care.
equitablegrowth.org/grants/bring...
equitablegrowth.org/grants/bring...
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
At the blog I wrote about a new paper by @natewilmers.bsky.social , @zparolin.bsky.social , and @lukaslehner.bsky.social .
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
May 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
At the blog I wrote about a new paper by @natewilmers.bsky.social , @zparolin.bsky.social , and @lukaslehner.bsky.social .
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility? Prominent employers, from Microsoft to the State of Maryland, are increasingly dropping college degree requirements when hiring. Does this provide upward mobility for workers without a college degree? Matching job postings to h
#sociology link
#sociology link
August 13, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility? Prominent employers, from Microsoft to the State of Maryland, are increasingly dropping college degree requirements when hiring. Does this provide upward mobility for workers without a college degree? Matching job postings to h
#sociology link
#sociology link
Reposted by MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)
This paper from @tomlyttelton.bsky.social and @natewilmers.bsky.social is amazing. It shows that removing educational requirements can have big impacts for workers...except that employers don't really hire those workers below the normal education level anyway.
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility? Prominent employers, from Microsoft to the State of Maryland, are increasingly dropping college degree requirements when hiring. Does this provide upward mobility for workers without a college degree? Matching job postings to h
#sociology link
#sociology link
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
This paper from @tomlyttelton.bsky.social and @natewilmers.bsky.social is amazing. It shows that removing educational requirements can have big impacts for workers...except that employers don't really hire those workers below the normal education level anyway.
"Leaders cannot simply copy and paste their talent practices from others. They need diagnostic tools to assess their own organizations, identify their unique challenges, and adapt solutions & processes strategically..."—Emilio Castilla @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/yc462b38
The Meritocracy Paradox: A Strategic Risk—and Opportunity—for Leaders - CEOWORLD magazine
In boardrooms, annual letters, and investor calls worldwide, one refrain often echoes: People are our most valuable asset. Few CEOs or investors would dare disagree. Talent fuels growth, sparks innova...
tinyurl.com
September 8, 2025 at 8:20 PM
"Leaders cannot simply copy and paste their talent practices from others. They need diagnostic tools to assess their own organizations, identify their unique challenges, and adapt solutions & processes strategically..."—Emilio Castilla @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/yc462b38
Congratulations to Emilio J. Castilla, Co-Director of @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social! He has been named to the shortlist for the 2025 Thinkers50 Talent Award for his new book "The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them": tinyurl.com/3mt777d3
Thinkers50 Ranking & Awards Nominations 2025
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Thinkers50 Ranking and Distinguished Achievement Awards.
tinyurl.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Congratulations to Emilio J. Castilla, Co-Director of @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social! He has been named to the shortlist for the 2025 Thinkers50 Talent Award for his new book "The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them": tinyurl.com/3mt777d3
What is a workplace health and well-being committee--and why do you need one? Learn more in this new article from @mitsloan.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4w2bubd7
What is a workplace health and well-being committee — and why do you need one? | MIT Sloan
HaWCs can be a cost-effective way to reduce turnover among front-line employees and save your organization money.
tinyurl.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
What is a workplace health and well-being committee--and why do you need one? Learn more in this new article from @mitsloan.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4w2bubd7
IWER's August 2025 newsletter is now available online. The title of this issue is "'The Meritocracy Paradox' and More: New Works from IWER Researchers.” Read the August newsletter here: tinyurl.com/yk7bbc9p
August 19, 2025 at 7:35 PM
IWER's August 2025 newsletter is now available online. The title of this issue is "'The Meritocracy Paradox' and More: New Works from IWER Researchers.” Read the August newsletter here: tinyurl.com/yk7bbc9p
New research from @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social & @hsph.harvard.edu
finds that workplace health and well-being committees (HaWCs) can result in lower turnover & improvements in workers’ mental health. Read our new guide for managers about starting a HaWC program: tinyurl.com/yvs46sap
finds that workplace health and well-being committees (HaWCs) can result in lower turnover & improvements in workers’ mental health. Read our new guide for managers about starting a HaWC program: tinyurl.com/yvs46sap
Starting a Workplace Health and Well-Being Committee: A Step-By-Step Guide for Managers | MIT Sloan
In this guide, you will learn about the benefits of workplace Health and Well-Being Committees and gain information about how to set them up.
tinyurl.com
July 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
New research from @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social & @hsph.harvard.edu
finds that workplace health and well-being committees (HaWCs) can result in lower turnover & improvements in workers’ mental health. Read our new guide for managers about starting a HaWC program: tinyurl.com/yvs46sap
finds that workplace health and well-being committees (HaWCs) can result in lower turnover & improvements in workers’ mental health. Read our new guide for managers about starting a HaWC program: tinyurl.com/yvs46sap
New in the @columbiaup.bsky.social blog: Professor Emilio J. Castilla of @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social, explains some key findings from his new book “The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them”: tinyurl.com/5dtrfnm6
Emilio J. Castilla in Conversation with Renee Bales About The Meritocracy Paradox - Columbia University Press Blog
In this interview, Emilio J. Castilla and Renee Bales discuss the strengths and limitations of meritocracy, the state of merit-based evaluation practices today, and more.
tinyurl.com
July 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
New in the @columbiaup.bsky.social blog: Professor Emilio J. Castilla of @mitiwer.bsky.social @mitsloan.bsky.social, explains some key findings from his new book “The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them”: tinyurl.com/5dtrfnm6
“The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them,” a new book by @mitsloan.bsky.social Professor Emilio J. Castilla @mitiwer.bsky.social, will be published soon by @columbiaup.bsky.social & is now available for preorder: tinyurl.com/56cvrzan
Announcing Emilio Castilla’s New Book “The Meritocracy Paradox” | MIT Sloan
MIT Sloan Professor Emilio J. Castilla’s new book, "The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them," will be published soon by Columbia University Press and i...
tinyurl.com
July 17, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“The Meritocracy Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to Fix Them,” a new book by @mitsloan.bsky.social Professor Emilio J. Castilla @mitiwer.bsky.social, will be published soon by @columbiaup.bsky.social & is now available for preorder: tinyurl.com/56cvrzan
Check out our new MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research compendium highlighting research on work and well-being :
tinyurl.com/3wpwuydy
tinyurl.com/3wpwuydy
Work and Well-Being: An IWER Research Compendium | MIT Sloan
This collection of links highlights some of the research and analysis on work and well-being that has been conducted in recent years by scholars affiliated with the MIT Institute for Work and Employme...
tinyurl.com
June 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Check out our new MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research compendium highlighting research on work and well-being :
tinyurl.com/3wpwuydy
tinyurl.com/3wpwuydy
You might not think that forming a committee where frontline workers can share work-related health & well-being concerns would have all that much effect on a workplace.
But it can. That’s what @elkelly.bsky.social @mitiwer.bsky.social & colleagues found in a recent study: tinyurl.com/y4pej88v
But it can. That’s what @elkelly.bsky.social @mitiwer.bsky.social & colleagues found in a recent study: tinyurl.com/y4pej88v
The Surprising Potential of Health and Well-Being Committees | MIT Sloan
MIT Sloan Professor Erin L. Kelly, who is Co-Director of the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER), found in a recent multiyear study in e-commerce warehouses that establishing Health ...
tinyurl.com
June 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM
You might not think that forming a committee where frontline workers can share work-related health & well-being concerns would have all that much effect on a workplace.
But it can. That’s what @elkelly.bsky.social @mitiwer.bsky.social & colleagues found in a recent study: tinyurl.com/y4pej88v
But it can. That’s what @elkelly.bsky.social @mitiwer.bsky.social & colleagues found in a recent study: tinyurl.com/y4pej88v