Kelly Pike
School of Human Resource Management
Associate Professor
Office: Atkinson Building, 150M
Ext: 22939
Email: kpike@yorku.ca
Attached CV
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Kelly Pike specializes in the role of worker voice and participation in the regulation of international labour standards, with a particular focus on the global garment industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her research contributes to the literature on regulating labour in global value chains. Her most recent publications appear in ILR Review; Gender, Work and Organization; Journal of Developing Societies; and the ILO Better Work Discussion Paper series.
Kelly spent her 2022-23 academic year as a York-Massey Fellow (Visiting Scholar) at Massey College in Toronto and currently holds a Visiting Scholar position at the Global Labor Institute at Cornell University's ILR School.
Kelly is a partner in the COVID homeworking by university staff survey (CHUSS) project, an international research collaboration between 14 universities in Canada and Australia examining the impacts of COVID-19 on work and life outcomes for faculty and staff.
In 2018-19, Kelly was a major research partner on the project Decent Work Regulation in Africa, funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund, in partnership with colleagues in the UK and South Africa. A central aim of the project was to establish a regional network of researchers and policy-makers who have an interest in effect labour regulation.
Kelly also works part-time as a consultant for the International Labour Office, having recently evaluated the impacts of the Workplace Cooperation Program (i.e. Better Work Academy) which was piloted in collaboration with a major brand-name retailer in the global garment industry. The goal of the program is to improve workplace cooperation and train workers and managers to more effectively resolve non-compliance issues.
Additional leadership and advisory roles include her recent service (2018-19) as Interim Director of the Global Labour Research Centre at York, and as a current member of the CETA Canadian Domestic Advisory Group for Labour.
Kelly’s publications include articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, book reviews, as well as several technical reports, research briefs and discussion papers for the ILO. Her most recent publications appear in ILR Review; Gender, Work and Organization; Journal of Developing Societies; and the ILO Better Work Discussion Paper Series.
Prior to her current appointment in the School of HRM, Kelly was a CLA in Work and Labour Studies at York. During that time she appeared several times on CBC Windsor News at 6 for comment on local labour disputes.
In addition to research and policy work, Kelly is committed to teaching and mentoring students. She currently teaches courses in Industrial Relations, Negotiations, and Qualitative Research Methods.
Degrees
PhD, Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor RelationsProfessional Leadership
President, Canadian Industrial Relations Association (2023-present)
Interim Graduate Program Director, School of Human Resource Management (2023-24)
Interim Director, Global Labour Research Centre, York University (2018-19)
Community Contributions
CETA Canadian Domestic Advisory Group for Labour
Research Interests
- YUFA Teaching-Learning Development Grant - 2019
- Dean's Award for Research Excellence - 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- LA&PS Minor Research Grant - 2017, 2019
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
This study follows the implementation and evaluation of initiatives to prevent sexual harassment in four garment-producing countries. The first wave of research was conducted in 2022. A follow-up impact assessment is being conducted in 2023. THe project examines both traditional methods of training across the countries, as well as a virtual reality pilot project in Indonesia.
Start Date:
- Month: Sep Year: 2022
End Date:
- Month: May Year: 2024
Collaborator: Tinu Koithara Mathew
Collaborator Institution: York University
Collaborator Role: Research Associate
Funders:
International Labour Organization
-
Summary:
The goal of this project is to investigate the impact of current working arrangements at York University (among academic and administrative staff), arising from adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Description:https://glrc.info.yorku.ca/covid-19-and-the-world-of-work/impacts-on-faculty-and-staff/
Start Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2020
-
Summary:
The project on Decent Work Regulation in Africa is a collaboration between Durham University (UK), the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and York University (Canada). DWR-Africa is led by Professor Deirdre McCann of Durham Law School and funded through the UK Global Challenges Research Fund. A central aim of the Project is to establish a Regional Network of researchers and policy-makers with an interest in effective labour regulation. DWR-Africa responds to UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. To achieve this objective, effective labour regulation is crucial. Strong labour laws are a vital component of development policies, capable of supporting inclusive growth, sustainable prosperity, and the wellbeing of workers and their families. Yet the regulatory strategies that can effectively achieve decent work – especially in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) – have yet to be designed.
A Pilot Project on Enforcing Labour Laws in Southern Africa is being led by Dr Shane Godfrey of the Institute of Development and Labour Law, University of Cape Town and Professor Kelly Pike of the School of Human Resource Management, York University, Toronto. The project aims to better understand the limitations and strengths of multi-stakeholder models in South Africa and Lesotho. The focus is on whether these models provide a better way to enforce labour rights. To investigate this question, fieldwork was carried out in the garment sectors in South Africa and Lesotho during 2018. This research involved interviews with stakeholders in both countries including government officials, employers, unions, NGOs and other local initiatives, and workers themselves.
Description:https://www.dur.ac.uk/law/policyengagement/ufw/africa/project/
Collaborator: Deirdre McCann; Shane Godfrey
Collaborator Institution: Durham University; University of Cape Town
Collaborator Role: Principal Investigator; Co-Investigator
Funders:
Durham University, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Global Challenges Research Fund
-
Summary:
The Workplace Cooperation Program is an initiative of the International Labour Office (ILO) and a major retailer in the global garment industry. The program aims at training workers and managers to more effectively address and resolve non-compliance issues. This project serves as an evaluation of the program.
Description:Phase 1 (2017) evaluation efforts focused on the training itself, including both the materials used as well as receiving/delivering the training. The purpose was to identify the key strengths and potential problem areas, with suggestions for future improvements. Phase 2 (2018) evaluation efforts are focused on impacts on the factory floor, and whether the training has translated into improvements for workers.
Funders:
ILO
Approach to Teaching
HRM 3422 Industrial Relations
HRM 4490 Negotiations
HRM 7010 Qualitative Research Methods
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | AP/HRM3422 3.0 | M | Industrial Relations | ONLN |
| Winter 2025 | GS/HRM7010 3.0 | M | Qualitative Research Methods & Processes | ONLN |
Upcoming Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | AP/HRM4490 3.0 | A | Negotiations for Human Resource Manageme | BLEN |
| Summer 2025 | AP/HRM4470 3.0 | M | International Human Resources Management | ONLN |
Kelly Pike specializes in the role of worker voice and participation in the regulation of international labour standards, with a particular focus on the global garment industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her research contributes to the literature on regulating labour in global value chains. Her most recent publications appear in ILR Review; Gender, Work and Organization; Journal of Developing Societies; and the ILO Better Work Discussion Paper series.
Kelly spent her 2022-23 academic year as a York-Massey Fellow (Visiting Scholar) at Massey College in Toronto and currently holds a Visiting Scholar position at the Global Labor Institute at Cornell University's ILR School.
Kelly is a partner in the COVID homeworking by university staff survey (CHUSS) project, an international research collaboration between 14 universities in Canada and Australia examining the impacts of COVID-19 on work and life outcomes for faculty and staff.
In 2018-19, Kelly was a major research partner on the project Decent Work Regulation in Africa, funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund, in partnership with colleagues in the UK and South Africa. A central aim of the project was to establish a regional network of researchers and policy-makers who have an interest in effect labour regulation.
Kelly also works part-time as a consultant for the International Labour Office, having recently evaluated the impacts of the Workplace Cooperation Program (i.e. Better Work Academy) which was piloted in collaboration with a major brand-name retailer in the global garment industry. The goal of the program is to improve workplace cooperation and train workers and managers to more effectively resolve non-compliance issues.
Additional leadership and advisory roles include her recent service (2018-19) as Interim Director of the Global Labour Research Centre at York, and as a current member of the CETA Canadian Domestic Advisory Group for Labour.
Kelly’s publications include articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, book reviews, as well as several technical reports, research briefs and discussion papers for the ILO. Her most recent publications appear in ILR Review; Gender, Work and Organization; Journal of Developing Societies; and the ILO Better Work Discussion Paper Series.
Prior to her current appointment in the School of HRM, Kelly was a CLA in Work and Labour Studies at York. During that time she appeared several times on CBC Windsor News at 6 for comment on local labour disputes.
In addition to research and policy work, Kelly is committed to teaching and mentoring students. She currently teaches courses in Industrial Relations, Negotiations, and Qualitative Research Methods.
Degrees
PhD, Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor RelationsProfessional Leadership
President, Canadian Industrial Relations Association (2023-present)
Interim Graduate Program Director, School of Human Resource Management (2023-24)
Interim Director, Global Labour Research Centre, York University (2018-19)
Community Contributions
CETA Canadian Domestic Advisory Group for Labour
Research Interests
Awards
- YUFA Teaching-Learning Development Grant - 2019
- Dean's Award for Research Excellence - 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- LA&PS Minor Research Grant - 2017, 2019
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
This study follows the implementation and evaluation of initiatives to prevent sexual harassment in four garment-producing countries. The first wave of research was conducted in 2022. A follow-up impact assessment is being conducted in 2023. THe project examines both traditional methods of training across the countries, as well as a virtual reality pilot project in Indonesia.
Project Type: FundedRole: Project Lead
Start Date:
- Month: Sep Year: 2022
End Date:
- Month: May Year: 2024
Collaborator: Tinu Koithara Mathew
Collaborator Institution: York University
Collaborator Role: Research Associate
Funders:
International Labour Organization
-
Summary:
The goal of this project is to investigate the impact of current working arrangements at York University (among academic and administrative staff), arising from adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Description:https://glrc.info.yorku.ca/covid-19-and-the-world-of-work/impacts-on-faculty-and-staff/
Project Type: Self-FundedRole: York University Research Lead
Start Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2020
-
Summary:
The project on Decent Work Regulation in Africa is a collaboration between Durham University (UK), the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and York University (Canada). DWR-Africa is led by Professor Deirdre McCann of Durham Law School and funded through the UK Global Challenges Research Fund. A central aim of the Project is to establish a Regional Network of researchers and policy-makers with an interest in effective labour regulation. DWR-Africa responds to UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. To achieve this objective, effective labour regulation is crucial. Strong labour laws are a vital component of development policies, capable of supporting inclusive growth, sustainable prosperity, and the wellbeing of workers and their families. Yet the regulatory strategies that can effectively achieve decent work – especially in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) – have yet to be designed.
A Pilot Project on Enforcing Labour Laws in Southern Africa is being led by Dr Shane Godfrey of the Institute of Development and Labour Law, University of Cape Town and Professor Kelly Pike of the School of Human Resource Management, York University, Toronto. The project aims to better understand the limitations and strengths of multi-stakeholder models in South Africa and Lesotho. The focus is on whether these models provide a better way to enforce labour rights. To investigate this question, fieldwork was carried out in the garment sectors in South Africa and Lesotho during 2018. This research involved interviews with stakeholders in both countries including government officials, employers, unions, NGOs and other local initiatives, and workers themselves.
Description:https://www.dur.ac.uk/law/policyengagement/ufw/africa/project/
Project Type: FundedRole: Co-Investigator
Collaborator: Deirdre McCann; Shane Godfrey
Collaborator Institution: Durham University; University of Cape Town
Collaborator Role: Principal Investigator; Co-Investigator
Funders:
Durham University, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Global Challenges Research Fund
-
Summary:
The Workplace Cooperation Program is an initiative of the International Labour Office (ILO) and a major retailer in the global garment industry. The program aims at training workers and managers to more effectively address and resolve non-compliance issues. This project serves as an evaluation of the program.
Description:Phase 1 (2017) evaluation efforts focused on the training itself, including both the materials used as well as receiving/delivering the training. The purpose was to identify the key strengths and potential problem areas, with suggestions for future improvements. Phase 2 (2018) evaluation efforts are focused on impacts on the factory floor, and whether the training has translated into improvements for workers.
Project Type: FundedRole: Project Lead
Funders:
ILO
All Publications
Approach to Teaching
HRM 3422 Industrial Relations
HRM 4490 Negotiations
HRM 7010 Qualitative Research Methods
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | AP/HRM3422 3.0 | M | Industrial Relations | ONLN |
| Winter 2025 | GS/HRM7010 3.0 | M | Qualitative Research Methods & Processes | ONLN |
Upcoming Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | AP/HRM4490 3.0 | A | Negotiations for Human Resource Manageme | BLEN |
| Summer 2025 | AP/HRM4470 3.0 | M | International Human Resources Management | ONLN |
