Last Mile Delivery Student Research Team

This summer, a group of ILR students gathered with faculty to share their research on the working conditions and challenges faced by Last Mile Delivery Drivers — the essential workers who ensure the timely delivery of goods to homes and businesses.

Pictured left to right: Celine Chauviere, Casey Platkin, Diane Burton, Cathy Creighton, Lauren Squires, and Hagen Lu.

Through their research, the students examined issues such as job insecurity, algorithmic management, and the pressures of gig-based labor. Their work reflects the ILR School’s commitment to understanding the evolving world of work and advocating for fair and equitable labor practices.

In addition to exploring workplace dynamics, the students also delved into the legal frameworks surrounding these jobs, investigating how labor and employment law intersect with emerging forms of work. These legal inquiries not only shaped their research questions but also helped inform their future aspirations in employment law and policy reform.

Associate Dean of Outreach M. Diane Burton and Cathy Creighton, Director of the Buffalo Co-Lab, provided mentorship and valuable insights, guiding students as they connected academic research with real-world impact.

We’re proud of our students for their thoughtful engagement with these timely and important issues, and we look forward to seeing how their work contributes to the broader conversation on labor rights and the future of work.