An experimental canadian survey that links workplace practices and
employee outcomes: Why it is needed and how it works
by
Garnett Picot and Ted Wannell
Business and Labour Market Analysis Division
Analytical
Studies Branch research paper series, No. 100
Fundamental changes
have taken place in the labour market and among firms in the 1980s and 1990s.
In some cases we understand what has occurred, but not why. In other cases the
data do not exist to shed light on exactly what is happening, let alone why. Changes
in the labour market are often related to changes in the way in which firms are
engaging and paying labour, the adoption of new technologies, changes in the types
of markets in which firms compete, and other events occurring in firms; i.e. changes
on the demand side of the labour market. But data have never existed that allowed
events occurring in firms to be related to the outcomes for the workers.
This
paper outlines why such data are necessary. The example of rising inequality is
used to demonstrate the need for such a survey. Also presented is an outline of
how the new data can be provided using a new approach to surveying. The proposed
survey first surveys establishments, and then surveys workers within that establishment.
In this way a direct link is made between the activities in the establishment
and the outcomes for the workers. Conversely, a direct link is established between
the events in the firm and the characteristics of the workers, another area of
research that has suffered from a lack of data at the micro-level. This paper
outlines why such a survey is needed, the possible content, and research topics
that could be addressed with such data.
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the full publication.
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