FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

School of Labour Studies

Five students observing an instructor draw a graph on a white board discussing labour research at McMaster Campus.

Research

Faculty conduct cutting-edge research on domestic and international labour issues. We take interdisciplinary approaches to our research, drawing on theories and methodologies from across the Social Sciences, including Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Geography, Health and Aging, and Social Work. We are also leaders in community-engaged scholarship, collaborating with unions, community organizations and policy-makers on research that will help make work better for everyone.

Featured Research

Research Reports and Working Papers

Research report and working paper icon

Southern Ontario’s Basic Income Experience

A study of how Ontario’s 2018 basic income pilot affected individuals and families in Hamilton and Brantford. Co-authored by Mohammad Ferdosi (McMaster University), Tom McDowell (Ryerson University) Wayne Lewchuk (McMaster University), and Stephanie Ross (McMaster University).

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Mapping the Void: Two-Spirit and LGBTIQ+ Experiences in Hamilton

A Research Partnership Among: McMaster University, The AIDS Network and Hamilton community researchers who identify as Two-Spirit and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer.

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Language Barriers and Workers’ Compensation Access in Ontario and Quebec

Authors: Premji, Begum, Medley, MacEachen, Saunders

 

Language barriers and workers’ compensation access in Ontario and Quebec, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. It reports on a comparative study of Quebec and Ontario workers’ compensation systems that examined how policies and practices facilitate or hinder access for injured workers who experience language barriers.

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Extreme Employment Precarity and Health Impacts Among South Asians in Toronto

Authors: Premji, Begum, Jahangir, Gnanayutham, McKinnon

 

Extreme employment precarity and health impacts among South Asians in Toronto, funded by an Ontario Multicultural Community Capacity grant. It describes experiences of extreme employment precarity and impacts on health and well-being among South Asians in Toronto based on stories shared in the context of focus groups and an information workshop developed by the team of researchers and advocates.

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A Guide to Identifying and Addressing Challenges Related to Language Barriers in Return to Work

Authors: Premji, Begum, MacEachen, Medley

 

Funded by the WSIB the guide provides advice for stakeholders involved in the return to work process on how to identify and address challenges that arise in contexts of language barriers.

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An illustration of a man with an arm injury working on a bottling line.

What To Do if You Get Injured or Ill from Work

Authors: Premji, Begum, MacEachen, Medley

 

This is a printable pamphlet funded by the WSIB has advice for injured workers who experience language barriers, and it is available in 7 languages. 

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Work, Inclusion and 2SLGBTQ+ people in Sudbury and Windsor

Authors: Mills, Owens, Guta, Lewis, Oswin

 

This report presents the findings of a two-year study of the experiences of a large and diverse sample of 2SLGBTQ+ workers in the mid-sized cities of Sudbury and Windsor to address these gaps. In partnership with the United Steelworkers Canada, Unifor and the Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre.

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A woman in glasses reading about labour resources at Mcmaster campus. A woman in glasses reading about labour resources at Mcmaster campus.

Labour Resources