In this episode, Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr. Elisa Pannini to discuss labor unions, employment legislation, and workplace conditions. Dr. Pannini shares her journey into labor market research and talks about the significance of platform work as a major shift in the labor market. The conversation explores how unions are adapting to represent precarious and marginalized workers, the evolving landscape of labor regulations, and how technology is influencing labor dynamics. Dr. Pannini also highlights her upcoming research on the use of AI and algorithmic management in call centers and its implications for workers.

01:06 Dr. Pannini's Research Journey

03:02 Impact of Platform Work on Labor Markets

04:19 Union Efforts in Organizing Precarious Workers

05:15 Challenges and Opportunities in Worker Organization

10:08 Education and Workers' Rights

17:48 Global Labor Market Dynamics

21:40 Unions and Democracy

24:12 Future Research and Conclusion

In this episode, Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr Laura William, an Associate Professor of Employment Relations and Equality. They discuss the employment challenges faced by disabled individuals, exploring why disabled people are more likely to be made redundant and how they struggle to re-enter the labor market. Dr William shares her personal and research experiences, highlighting the substantial employment gaps and legal barriers, including the 'medical model' of disability and the lack of legal representation in employment tribunals. The discussion also touches upon Dr William’s book, 'Claiming Disability Discrimination: Assessing Barriers to Justice,' and her groundbreaking database that maps out patterns in employment tribunal judgments. The episode concludes with insights into Dr William’s future research on intersectional discrimination.

00:51 Dr Laura William's Journey into Socio-Legal Studies

02:12 Evolution of Disability Law

02:56 Employment Gaps and Discrimination

04:14 Barriers to Justice for Disabled People

10:49 Challenges in Proving Disability

18:12 Mental vs. Physical Disabilities in Employment

20:44 Importance of Disclosing Disabilities

25:23 Creating a Disability Discrimination Database

26:14 Future Research Directions

Read Laura's new book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-74387-0

In this episode Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr Maria Gebbels, Associate Professor in hospitality management at the University of Greenwich. The discussion centers around The Clink Charity, which operates fine dining restaurants inside working prisons where inmates are trained as chefs and front-of-house staff. The conversation covers The Clink's innovative approach, its significant social impact, the benefits it offers to both prisoners and the public, and Dr Gebbels' research on the transformative effects of this program. The episode also touches on the broader implications for rehabilitation and employment prospects for ex-prisoners.

00:18 Meet Dr Maria Gebbels

01:14 Understanding Critical Hospitality

02:26 The Clink Charity: Fine Dining in Prisons

04:17 How The Clink Charity Operates

08:40 Impact on Prisoners and Public Perception

18:29 Research Findings and Future Directions