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Worker engagement

Key challenges to effective worker engagement

Worker tinning goods on a production line

Freedom of association limitations

Despite global recognition of freedom of association, workers face legal and practical barriers to organizing—like union monopolies, burdensome registration, and employer retaliation—that weaken representation and collective bargaining.

Culture of fear and reprisal

For workers to raise concerns safely, they need trust and protection from reprisal. Yet many face retaliation for organizing, reporting abuses, or using grievance channels. Building trust requires accountability, transparency, and meaningful remediation.

Alternative engagement mechanisms

In sectors where unions are limited—like agriculture or gig work—alternative models such as worker committees or associations offer critical pathways for worker voice. To be effective, they must center real worker agency and be shielded from co-optation.

Effective grievance systems

Many grievance systems fail because of poor design, eroding worker trust. Effective systems are evidence-based, addressing workers’ needs with accessibility, transparency, and accountability, ensuring safe reporting and real follow-through.

Risks for workers and businesses

Across diverse global industries, workers face significant barriers to meaningful participation in workplace decisions that affect their livelihoods.

Critical blind spots

Without authentic worker input, companies miss critical operational insights that only frontline workers can provide.

Compliance vulnerability

Evolving human rights due diligence regulations increasingly require evidence of effective worker engagement mechanisms.

Escalating conflicts

When workers lack legitimate channels for raising concerns, workplace grievances frequently intensify into disruptive disputes.

Reduced business efficiency

Meaningful worker participation directly correlates with improved retention, production, quality, and operational performance.

Strategic solutions

Working with companies, governments, and civil society organizations, we build the capacities and programs needed for effective worker engagement.

Human rights due diligence systems

A team of people at a desk working together around a laptop

We strengthen corporate policies and due diligence systems to ensure respect for workers’ right to freedom of association and promote meaningful worker engagement. Our approach ensures that fundamental rights are integrated into management systems and business practices rather than remaining as policy statements without practical implementation.

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Worker education and capacity building

Man in a training session holding a learning document

We deliver practical training for workers and their representatives on rights awareness, effective participation, and strengthening advocacy capabilities. We partner with worker-led CSOs, unions, and other types of worker organizations to elevate and advocate for workers’ priorities and greater corporate accountability with governments, companies, and other stakeholders.

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Effective grievance mechanisms

Two male factory workers sat talking to each other

We develop and implement robust grievance systems that meet international standards for legitimacy, accessibility, and transparency. By speaking with large numbers of workers during the design process, we ensure that these mechanisms respond to workers’ needs and priorities and provide meaningful remediation pathways for workers experiencing violations of their rights.

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Alternative worker participation models

Group of women in a workshop drawing diagrams

In countries and sectors in which traditional unionization faces barriers, we design and implement alternative worker participation models that maintain authentic worker agency while creating structured dialogue with management. These approaches complement rather than replace the role of unions, promoting worker engagement where traditional unions don’t exist and organizing is not yet viable, while supporting longer-term organizing efforts.

Featured project

Advancing Worker Participation

The Advancing Worker Participation (AWP) initiative equips U.S. manufacturers with tools and training to strengthen worker representation and rights at work.

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