hourly workers

Although much of work in the US relies upon hourly workers, not enough research has identified the job-related factors that contribute to optimal outcomes for organizations, employees and families. iwin is committed to bridging that gap.

recent projects include:
flexible solutions for low-wage hourly workers
workplace structure & hourly low-wage workers
the citisales study for hourly workers
flexibility for hourly low-wage workers

flexible workplace solutions for low-wage hourly workers: a framework for a national conversation

Authors: Jennifer E. Swanberg, Ph.D., iwin; Elizabeth Watson, Former Legislative Counsel, Workplace Flexibility 2010, Executive Director, Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy

This policy report co-authored by iwin and WF2010 provides a thorough examination of the scheduling challenges faced by many of today's workers and provides a set of practical solutions for employers and policymakers.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jennifer Swanberg.

workplace structure and its impact on hourly workers and their families

Presenter: Jennifer Swanberg, Ph.D., iwin
Co-presenter: Mamta Ohja, MSW, iwin

Many professional workers take for granted the ability to alter their schedule when they are sick; or to care for a sick child, but a large part of the labor force (low-wage, hourly workers) don't have sick leave or vacation days and don't have flexible practices that allow for predictable or as-needed schedule modifications. iwin reviewed the literature on low wage, hourly workers, and their access to flexible work options. After establishing a definition for what consistutes both low wage hourly work, and what constitutes flexibility, iwin analyzed the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce to assess what flexible work options were available to low-wage hourly workers.

the citisales study: jobs that work for hourly workers

Principal Investigator: Jennifer Swanberg, Ph.D., UK iwin
Co-Principal Investigator: Jacqueline B. James, Ph.D., Boston College
Mac Werner, MSW, UK iwin
Mamta U. Ojha, MSW, UK iwin

The CitiSales Study is a research study that focuses on employee engagement among hourly and older workers at a Fortune 100 retail firm. The project finds six workplace dimensions that are critical components of employee engagement and customer satisfaction.  This report is comprised of nine issue briefs that highlight the research findings and translate them into action steps for supervisors, managers, and business leaders. The CitiSales Study is a unique collaboration between private industry and researchers at UK's Institute for Workplace Innovation (iwin) and Boston College's Center for Aging & Work.

read full report

The Ford Foundation funded the research focused on hourly workers.For more information, please contact Dr. Jennifer Swanberg at jswanberg@uky.edu.

workplace flexibility for hourly lower-wage employees: a strategic business practice within one national retail firm

Principal Investigator: Jennifer Swanberg, Ph.D., UK iwin
Co-Principal Investigator: Jacqueline James, Ph.D., Boston College

Using analysis of qualitative interviews, this study looks at flexibile work options offered to lower-wage hourly positions. The positive and negative consequences the business encounters in offering flexible work options are also explored.

This project was funded by the Ford Foundation and the Center on Aging & Work at Boston College. For more information about this project, please contact Dr. Jennifer Swanberg at jswanberg@uky.edu.