COVID-19

While some employers blame unemployment benefits for the for dearth of people willing to work, senior economics advisor Erica Groshen states that the shortage isn’t linked to benefits but to numerous other factors, including underlying health conditions and lack of child care.

Wendy Strobel Gower, program director at the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, says, “It comes down to: Does your company have an obligation to follow the guidance of federal and also state and local authorities?”

As Americans worry about their financial future due to the economic damage from the coronavirus, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts, including ILR Professor Philipp Kircher, to offer guidance.

U.S. job postings through mid-March were 2 percent lower than before the pandemic, New York state’s declined 13.7 percent over the same period, Russell Weaver said.

The jobs recovery faces a slow return to full employment – stretching out at least two years and probably more like four or five, Erica Groshen said.

Researchers led by JR Keller find that rehired employees outperformed new hires when the rehires returned to the same manager, and when working in one of two kinds of jobs: those that required building and maintaining interpersonal relationships with others in the organization, and those that required higher administrative coordination.

Nellie Brown, an industrial hygienist and director of the workplace health and safety program for The Worker Institute, says New York enacted protections for nail salon workers to prevent them from inhaling toxic fumes.

Associate Professor Vanessa Bohns discusses worker burnout, exacerbated by the pandemic and its duration, working from home and no change of scenery.

In this opinion piece, the author references Fred Kotler’s 2009 research paper entitled, “Project Labor Agreements in New York State: In the Public Interest.”

Following economic recessions in the US, lockouts occur more frequently as disputes over wages and benefits became more intense. Dean Alex Colvin provides context for why this happens.

According to Courtney McCluney, working from home has meant that code-switching – the way marginalized people adjust their behavior, appearance and language to avoid negative stereotypes – has evolved to changing physical spaces to become ‘whiter.’

Erica Groshen discusses the slow speed of economic recovery as the leisure and hospitality industry led U.S. job losses in December 2020 amid a surge in coronavirus cases and stricter pandemic restrictions.

Erica Groshen gives a detailed assessment of the most recent Jobs Report, noting that December's data likely reflects the surge in cases after Thanksgiving and the restrictions put in place to quell its spread.

Erica Groshen, ILR senior economic advisor, is quoted extensively in this piece about unemployment amid the pandemic.

With limited vaccine doses and a lot of workers considered essential, the jockeying has started over which ones should go to the front of the line. Francine Blau weighs in on the decisions being made.

Whether online or in-person, most office holiday parties look different this year. Brad Bell explains why a virtual gathering is so important for workplace culture.

Social norms have a big impact on decision-making when it comes to people taking Covid-19 precautions. Vanessa Bohns explains how the messaging around the virus affects individuals’ decision making.

Maria Figueroa, director of labor and policy research at the Worker Institute, describes the hardships food delivery workers are facing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Early in the pandemic, hospitals were competing for equipment. Now, they are competing for nurses. Adam Seth Litwin explains how supply and demand for front-line caregivers is affecting less affluent areas.

Information about cases offered alongside information about populations within school district boundaries.

Restauranteurs could consider leaving windows open as an added COVID-19 safety precaution, Nellie Brown says.

Employment inequalities have worsened during the pandemic, according to Russell Weaver.

Erica Groshen explains in this Bloomberg podcast episode the recent wave of corporate layoffs.

Russell Weaver of ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab explains what helped manufacturing and construction jobs remain stable during the pandemic.

The coronavirus has triggered a steep recession and economists like Erica Groshen are predicting a protracted turnaround, with the potential for a series of economic peaks and valleys.

Russell Weaver, economic geographer at ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, says that on the higher end of the wage scale “you're not seeing the exuberance in hiring, even though you're seeing signs of a recovery.”

Bradford Bell, professor in strategic human resources, says that there are legal reasons a company may want to spend money on stipends for remote work such as issues around employee health and wellness.