Erin L. Kelly

Erin L. Kelly is the Sloan Distinguished Professor of Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Co-Director of the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research. Her research focuses on workplace policies, work-family balance, and organizational equity, with a focus on low-wage workers and e-commerce environments. She holds a PhD from Princeton University and a BA from Rice University, and previously taught at the University of Minnesota.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology, Princeton University
• BA in Sociology, Rice University

Research Interests: Dr. Kelly investigates workplace policies impacting worker wellbeing, scheduling flexibility, harassment policies, and diversity initiatives. Her recent projects include analyzing e-commerce warehouse conditions and participatory workplace interventions through the Work, Family, and Health Network. She emphasizes strategies to enhance worker voice and reduce overwork in low-wage sectors.

Articles & Themes: Her recent work explores the effects of family leave policies, workplace redesign interventions, and cardiometabolic health outcomes tied to work conditions. Collaborative studies highlight the role of participatory approaches in improving retention and wellbeing, particularly in healthcare and technical industries.

Awards:

• 2024 Ellen Galinsky Generative Researcher Award
• 2021 Max Weber Award (ASA)
• 2021 Viviana Zelizer Award Honorable Mention

Advising & Grants: Collaborates with organizations to design evidence-based interventions. Current projects include analyzing labor conditions in e-commerce and advocating for policy changes to address workforce overload.

Labs/Teams: Leads research at the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research and co-directs the Work, Family, and Health Network. Engages with interdisciplinary teams to bridge scholarly insights with organizational practices.