2023
The Body@Work Project is a collective of University of Sydney academics who are working with industry, unions and community leaders to reimagine the future of embodied work and investigating how workplaces can make radical strides to offer a truly inclusive and supportive experience for all workers.
This means recognising the emotional labour of work while also turning our attention to the physical body at work. It also means recognising all workers across the sex and gender spectrums have reproductive health and caring obligations, not just cisgender women of childbearing age.
The Body@Work Project responds to growing research evidence that shows overlooking workers’ physical, psychological and reproductive health needs has adverse socioeconomic and demographic implications for the state, firms, employees and gender equality.
This research evidence also shows how reproductive health can affect labour force participation at any stage of the life cycle, from IVF and assisted fertility treatment to menopause.
The Body@Work Project is critically examining the responsibility of organisations and employers for workers’ health and wellbeing and potential policy responses and interventions to promote better work-life balance and gender equal labour market outcomes.
Associate Professor Elizabeth Hill (University of Sydney)
Elizabeth is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Economy at the University of Sydney. Elizabeth’s research focuses on the political economy of gender, work and care in the Asia Pacific, including the implementation and impact of menstrual leave and reproductive health policies. Elizabeth is also co-convenor of the Australian Work + Family Policy Roundtable.
Email: elizabeth.hill@sydney.edu.au
Professor Marian Baird AO (University of Sydney)
Marian is a Professor of Gender and Employment Relations at the University of Sydney Business School, Head of the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies and Co-Director of the Women, Work and Leadership Research Group. Marian’s research focus is gender and employment, including collective bargaining for reproductive health policies. Marian is also a Chief Investigator on the Centre of Excellence on Population Ageing research (CEPAR).
Email: marian.baird@sydney.edu.au
Sydney Colussi (University of Sydney)
Sydney is a Research Associate in the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School. Sydney recently completed her Juris Doctor at the University of Sydney Law School and her research focuses on the relationship between reproductive health, gender equality and paid work.
Email: sydney.colussi@sydney.edu.au