MSU's School of Human Resources and Labor Relations (HRLR) Faculty Publish Commentary on Advancing Labor Engagement Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Dr. Ahleah Miles
Faculty members from Michigan State University's School of Human Resources & Labor Relations (HRLR) have published a commentary in the journal Industrial and Organizational Psychology, offering a roadmap for strengthening connections between industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology and labor studies through sustained interdisciplinary collaboration.
The article, Advancing I-O's Engagement With Labor Through Institutionally Supported Interdisciplinarity, was authored by Dr. Ahleah Miles, Benjamin Blachly (Postbaccalaureate Scholar), Dr. Maite Tapia, and Dr. Hye Jin Rho. The publication appears as a commentary in response to a broader discussion within the field regarding the need for industrial-organizational psychology to more fully engage with labor issues and worker experiences.
The authors argue that meaningful collaboration between I-O psychology and labor scholarship can generate new insights into workplace challenges while helping researchers better understand the realities facing workers, unions, employers, and policymakers. Drawing on their experiences at Michigan State University, the authors highlight how institutional support for interdisciplinary research can create opportunities for scholars from different fields to address complex workplace issues together.
The publication reflects HRLR's longstanding commitment to integrating perspectives from human resources, labor relations, organizational psychology, economics, law, and public policy. The school's research portfolio includes studies on the future of work, workplace technology, worker well-being, labor markets, accountability, workforce development, and organizational effectiveness.
Miles, whose research focuses on career development, technology in the workplace, and the future of work, recently joined the HRLR faculty after participating in Michigan State University's Dean's Research Associate Program. Her scholarship examines how individuals navigate career decisions and how emerging technologies influence work experiences and opportunities.
The article also showcases the expertise of HRLR faculty members whose work spans labor relations and worker-centered research. Co-author Hye Jin Rho's research examines labor markets, worker experiences, and the impact of technology on work, while the broader HRLR faculty continue to advance interdisciplinary scholarship addressing contemporary workplace challenges.
The article is published in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, a leading journal of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.