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About the Institute

About us

The Worker Institute at Cornell engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues, to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of the Worker Institute is that collective representation and workers' rights are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society.

Worker Institute

Core Offerings

The Worker Institute serves as a hub for policy research, publication, and training for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and activists engaged in the public debate to reduce economic inequality.

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Student Engagement

Student Engagement

The Worker Institute at Cornell is committed to engaging Cornell ILR undergraduate and graduate students through our courses, research fellowships, graduate programs, and other professional development opportunities.

 

Students on international experience trip
Learn more about our work with students.

In the News

Media Mentions

Models Feel Hemmed in by AI

Cornell Chronicle
Using generative AI, fashion designers can use digital photos to adjust models’ features and even deploy fully digital avatars in place of humans. A team including an ILR School researcher has written a paper highlighting models’ challenges.
Models Feel Hemmed in by AI

Schneps Media’s 2025 Leaders of Labor to honor top professionals in labor community

AM NY
Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of ILR’s Worker Institute, is mentioned as a 2025 Schneps Media Leaders of Labor awardee; the award, which recognizes members of the labor community and the organizations that support them, will be presented on Oct. 8 at Terrace on the Park in Queens, New York.
Schneps Media’s 2025 Leaders of Labor to honor top professionals in labor community

A Broad Wave of Firings Followed Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

The New York Times
Risa Lieberwitz, ILR professor of labor and employment law, comments on recent workplace firings and employers’ heightened fear of political reprisal.
A Broad Wave of Firings Followed Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

‘Stories of Belonging’: Long Island exhibit celebrates TPS workers

“It’s a celebration of solidarity with TPS workers,” said Patricia Campos-Medina executive director of The Worker Institute and primary researcher for the “Stories of Belonging” public art and storytelling exhibit about the contributions of immigrants with Temporary Protected Status in the U.S.
‘Stories of Belonging’: Long Island exhibit celebrates TPS workers

AI Could Have Terrifying Impacts on Fashion Models, New Research Shows

Teen Vogue
A report co-authored by the Worker Institute reveals problems with AI-driven image manipulation in the fashion modeling industry.
AI Could Have Terrifying Impacts on Fashion Models, New Research Shows

Poll finds that unpaid caregivers face financial challenges

WBNG
Zoë West, a senior researcher of worker rights and equity at ILR’s Worker Institute, comments on issues raised by the latest Empire State poll about balancing unpaid caretaking and paid work. West contributed to the poll project, which was highlighted in ILR’s 2024-25 New York at Work report.
Poll finds that unpaid caregivers face financial challenges

Blog: Latest News and Events

Read more stories from the Worker Institute Blog

Empowering Workers, Building Leaders

On October 9, 2025, thirty participants celebrated their graduation from the first Housekeeping Technician and Leadership Development Workshop Series, a collaborative training effort between Labor Leadership Initiatives at Cornell’s ILR School and the Worker Justice Project (WJP).
WJP Graduation. Cleaning technicians 2
Empowering Workers, Building Leaders

Global Labor Leadership Initiative (GLLI) 2025: Global labor leaders unite for stronger, more democratic unions!

Earlier this year, 19 union leaders from across Africa, Asia, and Europe gathered in South Africa through the ILR School and The Solidarity Center’s Global Labor Leadership Initiative (GLLI).
GLLI
Global Labor Leadership Initiative (GLLI) 2025: Global labor leaders unite for stronger, more democratic unions!

Fashion’s Data Doubles: How AI is Reshaping Modeling Work

Generative AI technologies are shifting conditions of work across different creative fields. In a new research brief, the Worker Institute and Data & Society share findings from their research exploring how new applications of generative AI are affecting fashion models.
Photo by Briana Elledge and Jaka Vinsek
Fashion’s Data Doubles: How AI is Reshaping Modeling Work

Lois Gray Innovation Initiative 

Lois Gray, ILR School faculty member

 

The Lois Gray Innovation Initiative was founded by labor pioneer Lois Gray to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy, and society.

The Lois Gray Innovation Fund provide financial incentives for collaboration between resident and extension faculty in relation to priority programs of The Worker Institute.

It ensures faculty, researchers and students have the opportunity to fulfill the institute’s mission of advancing worker rights and collective representation.

Explore the initiative