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Leader in nonpartisan, evidence-based research to improve outcomes for people with modest incomes
The Resolution Foundation is a leader in conducting nonpartisan, evidence-based research and policy analysis aimed at improving the lives of those on low to middle incomes. Unbound Philanthropy supports the Resolution’s Foundation’s policy research program on labor law enforcement in the UK and improving labor standards, with the goals of fair treatment and equal opportunities for all, including immigrant and refugee workers.
The Resolution Foundation’s research is filling a major gap in the attention paid to how low-income temporary workers, especially how those with “zero-hour” contracts are treated in the labor market. Previous research that Unbound co-funded with the Resolution Foundation highlighted that those most at risk of poor treatment are often found in economic sectors (such as agriculture, cleaning, and hospitality) where there is a high concentration of immigrant workers.
Research funded by Unbound has shown how reputational concerns are an important driver of compliance when it comes to labor market law and minimum wage enforcement. Schemes like the Government’s ‘naming and shaming’ of firms underpaying the minimum wage do have a deterrent effect – but far more could be done to leverage this impact. Additional Unbound-funded Resolution foundation research has also shown that, even if detection rates for minimum wage underpayment were significantly increased, they would need to go hand-in-hand with higher financial penalties to provide firms with a hard, economic incentive to comply with the law.
Unbound Philanthropy has supported the Resolution Foundation since 2012. Its work advances our System and Public strategy areas. Part of Unbound and Resolution Foundation’s shared interest is in using evidence-based research to make change and ensure actors seeking economic justice collaborate with those seeking immigration justice.
Conducting non-partisan, evidence-based research to improve the lives of low-income workers
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Photo 1: Photo by Heiko Janowski on Unsplash
Photo 2: Photo by Daniel von Appen on Unsplash