KBS research group of Lorraine Ryan, Juliet MacMahon and Jonathan Lavelle
Monday, 9 February 2026

Meet the Researcher Series

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Dr. Lorraine Ryan

I am Associate Professor in HRM and Employment Relations. Research & teach in the areas of HRM & ER in the Department of Work and Employment Studies in Kemmy Business School. 
 

What projects you were involved in?

Broadly my research focuses on employment relations and decent work. Decent work essentially means work that is productive, equitable and provides a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for all. It also allows personal development, social integration and freedom for people to express their concerns and participate in the decisions that affect their lives in accordance with ILO principles.


Core research focus area at the moment?

My key focus right now is as project lead for the Irish research team based here in the KBS on a Horizon funded European project called Integrate Dialogue–Enhancing Inclusiveness of Social Dialogue for Non-Standard Workers: Strengthening the EU's Labour Market in the Digital and Green Age. The project involves a comparative approach among multiple countries across the EU, the United Kingdom and Norway. 

Social dialogue refers to all types of negotiation, consultation, participation and information exchange among stakeholders at different levels in the world of work.

Nonstandard work takes many different forms takes different forms, including marginal part-time work, temporary employment, zero-hour contracts, on-call work and agency work.

The focus of the project is to examine nonstandard workers and address the need for their effective representation in the evolving labour market, marked by digital and green transitions, to prevent an increase in inequality, in-work poverty, and social exclusion. 

We use a multidisciplinary, and comparative approach encompassing multiple countries, business models, various forms of NSWs, and social dialogue at different levels. 

 

Dr. Juliet MacMahon

Who are nonstandard workers and why is social dialogue important for them?

Non standard workers are traditionally those workers who do not align with the norm of a full time permanent type job. In the past we would have seen part time or temporary contracts. However in more recent times Non standard work has become much more prevalent. So we see zero hours work, casual on demand work, low hours contracts, bogus self employment, platform and gig work.

The issue for many of these workers is that work is often low paid and has limited job security or not enough hours to provide a decent standard of living. For some cohorts they are not legally considered to be employees and this has implications for access to rights ‘standard’ workers enjoy such as sick pay, pension rights, protection from unfair dismissal etc

Another issue is that we often find migrant workers, young workers female workers predominate in these jobs. Intersectionality is a feature.ie. workers with multiple disadvantages- female migrant workers for instance. 

Unfortunately also, many of these workers would have little or no representation in the workplace and thus no voice or power to change their situation. This then is why the integrated dialogue project is important as it will shine a light on the key issues facing workers in terms of getting representation/voice at organisation and national levels and being part of a broader social dialogue.

Non standard work is increasing both in Ireland and in Europe where the project is based and thus its important to ensure that these workers have rights and voice

 

Dr. Jonathan Lavelle 

How do different contexts shape social dialogue?

Social dialogue = encompasses all types of negotiation, consultation, participation and information exchange between, or among, representatives of governments, employers and workers, on issues of common interest relating to economic, employment and social policy.

ER systems differ across countries. Social dialogue differs across countries due to legal, cultural and institutional factors. 

Most countries have some form of social dialogue structures in place whereby representatives of employers, trade unions and the government discuss general economic and social matters. 

For example social dialogue may differ in terms of:

  • collective employment relations
  • the role of collective bargaining in determining pay and working conditions
  • social partners membership levels and influence
  • formal structures for the involvement of social partners in policy-making 

The role and powers of these bodies vary widely - some play more of an advisory and consultative role on draft legislation and policies, especially in relation to employment and work. Countries may have tripartite bodies (Government, employers and trade unions) that deal with specific issues - e.g. employment, training, and health and safety at work.  

International bodies and institutions are trying to strengthening social dialogue at both national and international level. 

Five distinct regimes will be included: Nordic organised corporatism (DK, NOR), social partnership (primarily developed in continental Western Europe BEL, NL), liberal pluralism (originating in Ireland and the United Kingdom), a polarised or state-centred regime found in Southern Europe (here, represented by the State-centred/organised corporatism of Italy) and the fragmented state centred regime of the Centre-East (Slovakia)


Dr. Lorraine Ryan

The world of work has faced considerable disruption in recent years and will continue to face disruption into the future due to climate change, technology and geo-political events. Policy makers, employers and workers will need to manage this disruption together to ensure they can meet the challenges they will face and ensure productive economies, thriving businesses and fair work environments. This project will provide key insights and a policy toolkit for stakeholders to shape social dialogue so that we can deliver decent work, voice and inclusion for everyone. 

Integrating Diversity in Social Dialogue research site: https://www.fafo.no/en/integrate-dialogue