We specialise in research related to employment relations, workplaces and workforce management. The Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing is affiliated with the Department.
Some of the major research activities being pursued by the Department include the following:
Regulations and institutions
Professors David Peetz and Glenda Strachan direct our research on the impact of changes on different groups in the labour market (including women and men, different cultures and cultural groups, different age cohorts), and the experiences within different occupations and industries.
This research will help identify the extent to which changing legislation, workplaces and workplace institutions (including unions) meets the needs of the labour force - and how this affects the operation of workplaces.
Find out more about our regulations and institutions research.
Smart workplaces
Human Resource and Employment Relations professionals understand that a happy work force is critical to the success of any organisation. Those companies that invest in their people come out on top. Smart Workplaces are characterised by a range of practices that contribute towards high productivity by finding common ground between employees and employers.
Led by program directors, Professor Adrian Wilkinson and Associate Professor Bob Russell, our researcher focuses on how and why 'smart workplaces' influence workforce commitment, discretionary effort, productivity and other enterprise outcomes. Through this research, we hope to improve the quality of working lives, organisational performance, business outcomes, competitiveness and job opportunities.
Find out more about our smart workplaces research.
Research grants and awards
Our research staff consistently succeed in receiving awards and funding from Australian Research Council grants and other industry-based research funds.