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:
the citisales study for hourly workers
flexibility for hourly low-wage workers
workplace structure & hourly low‐wage 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.

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.

on the horizon:
workplace structure and its impact on hourly workers and their families

Many professional workers take for granted the ability to alter their schedule when they are sick or have to care for a sick child, but a large part of the labor force does't have sick leave, vacation days, or the flexibility that allows for schedule modifications. iwin is currently working on a review of the literature on low-wage, hourly workers and their access to flexible work options. After establishing a definition of both low-wage, hourly work and workplace flexibility, we will analyze the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce to assess what flexible work options are available to low-wage, hourly workers.