Lawrence Root

Professor Emeritus of Social Work

Lawrence Root is a professor in University of Michigan's School of Social Work. His research and practice have focused on the intersection of employment and social welfare. He has directed programs and published in the areas of fringe benefits and social policy, employee assistance programs, aging and work, work-family flexibility, employment issues among low-income individuals, and international labor. From 1993 to 2008, he directed the University's Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations (subsequently re-organized as the Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy). During that time, he worked extensively with union-management joint programs and, with colleagues, developed Institute programs, such as “Urban Entrepreneurship” and “Labor and Global Change.” Within the University, he chaired of the President’s Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights, which addressed sweatshop conditions in the apparel industry.

Recent international work has included projects developing labor-management committees in Chinese companies and developing methods for assessing labor standards as a part of trade agreements. This work has been funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of State. Most recently he has been working on developing educational and research opportunities in India.

Research Interests

Social welfare/employment, services in the workplace, work-family, and cross-national labor policy/practices.

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

  • [email protected]

  • 4648 SSWB
    University of Michigan
    School of Social Work
    1080 S. University
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109University of Michigan
    Institute for Labor and Industrial Relations
    1111 Catherine St.
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Education

  • 1980 PhD Social Service Administration
    University of Chicago, IL
  • 1971 MSS Community Organizations/Social Planning
    Bryn Mawr College, PA
  • 1968 AB Philosophy/Religion
    Haverford College, PA

Activities

Publications

Liu, J., Root, L., Beck, J., & Zullo, R. (2013). Creating worker-management committees to promote workers' voice in China. Journal of Workplace Rights, 17(1), 3-22.
Root, L. S., & Young, Jr., A. A. (2011). Workplace flexibility and worker agency: Finding short-term flexibility within a highly structured workplace. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 638, 86-102.
Root, L., & Joon Choi, Y. (2011). Work in the lives of social work clients: Perspectives of field instructors. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31(3), 313-328.
Root, L., & Dickinson, K. K. (2010). Joint programs in the auto industry and the shaping of human services. In P. A. Kurzman, & R. P. Maiden (Eds.), Union Contributions to Labor Welfare Policy and Practice: Past, Present, and Future. New York: Routledge.
Root, L., & Dickinson, K. K. (2009). Joint labor-management programs in the auto industry and the shaping of human services. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 24(1/2), 45-60.
Root, L., & Wooten, L. P. (2008). Time out for family: Shift work, fathers, and sports. Human Resource Management, 47(3), 481-499.
Rudd, E., & Root, L. S. (2008). We pass the baby off at the factory gates: Work and family in the manufacturing midwest. In E. Rudd & L. Descartes (Eds.), The Changing Landscape of Work and Family in the American Middle Class. New York: Lexington Books.
Root, L. S. (2003). International labor standards: American universities, nongovernmental organizations, and the anti-sweatshop movement. In C. Kai, Z. Y. Shuo, Q. Jian, & F. Lin (Eds.), Industrial relations and labour policies in a globalizing world (pp. 457-475). Beijing: Chinese Labor Press.
Root, L. S. (2000). Education and training in the workplace: Social work interventions in the private sector. In M. E. Mor Barak & D. Bargal (Eds.), Social Services in the Workplace: Repositioning Occupational Social Work in the New Millennium 13-28. New York: Hayworth Press.
Root, L. S. (1999). Education and training in the workplace: Social work interventions in the private sector. Administration in Social Work, 23(3/4), 13-28.

Honors and Awards

Year Description
2016 Distinguished Alumni, Bryn Mawr's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
2002 University of Michigan Regent's Medal for distinguished service on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee
1999 Computerworld Smithsonian Laureate, University of Michigan's UAW-Ford University collaboration

Presentations

Year Description
2014 Root, L. (2014, November). U. S. labor force and employment policies. China Youth University for Political Science, Beijing, China.
2014 Root, L. (2014, November). Internships as an educational tool: Quality control to prevent labor rights violations and support educational goals. 11th Annual Beijing Forum, Beijing, China.
2014 Root, L. (2014, July). Strengthening Social and economic wellbeing in south Indian villages: Assessing a model for sustainable development. Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development, Melbourne, Australia.
2014 Root, L. (2014). Assessing international labor conditions: Using a formative simulation for testing a methodology. Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
2013 Root, L. (2013, March). Worker-management meetings in China: An initiative for workers’ voice in management structure. Labour Process Conference, Rutgers University, Piscataway Township, NJ.

Courses

Past Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Issues in Global Social Work Practice—Re-Entry and Professional Practice Lopez, Katie Fall 2015 001 12:00 pm 02:00 pm View Course
Issues in Global Social Work Practice Lopez, Katie Winter 2015 001 05:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Issues in Global Social Work Practice—Re-Entry and Professional Practice Lopez, Katie Fall 2014 001 12:00 pm 02:00 pm View Course
Comparative Cross National Analyses of Social Service Systems Root, Lawrence Fall 2014 001 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Issues in Global Social Work Practice Lopez, Katie Winter 2014 001 05:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Issues in Global Social Work Practice—Re-Entry and Professional Practice Lopez, Katie Fall 2013 001 12:00 pm 02:00 pm View Course
Introduction to Social Welfare Policy and Services Root, Lawrence Fall 2013 002 08:00 am 11:00 am View Course
Advanced Topics in Macro Social Work Lopez, Katie Winter 2013 005 05:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Advanced Topics in Macro Social Work Lopez, Katie Fall 2012 009 12:00 pm 02:00 pm View Course
Comparative Cross National Analyses of Social Service Systems Root, Lawrence Fall 2012 001 01:00 pm 04:00 pm View Course