The Kenexa Research Institute examined 15 years of WorkTrends data, and in 2008, delved into 14 countries’ data to understand past and current rates of unionization and what percentage of non-union employees would favor unionization.

By comparing employees who would favor joining a union to those who would prefer not, results show that, in addition to concerns about job safety, pay, and benefits, there are worker interests that can be addressed by simple (and not so simple) organizational initiatives. This KRI webinar describes the research results and suggests further organization action.

Brenda Kowske, Ph.D., is a research consultant for Kenexa Research Institute. Dr. Kowske specializes in conducting valid and reliable research that informs talent decisions to improve overall organizational performance. Based on her extensive consulting experience, Kowske has successfully designed processes for online survey creation, administration, quality testing and reporting, created valid performance measurement systems and metrics that differentiate employees and conducted talent analytics for compensation, promotion and development decisions. Before joining Kenexa, Dr. Kowske held previous consulting positions at Personnel Decisions International and National Research Center, and was a supervisor for the Minnesota Center for Survey Research.

Dr. Kowske has published numerous white papers and articles in professional journals. She is a member of the Academy of Human Resource Development, Academy of Management, American Psychological Association and Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychologist. She holds a Doctorate in Human Resource Development, a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota.

Anne E. Herman, M.A., serves as a Research Consultant for Kenexa Research Institute.
Ms. Herman worked previously for two years as a Research Consultant for Kenexa’s Survey team. She has extensive consulting experience in performance management, organizational assessment and change, creativity and innovation, employee selection and promotion, organizational strategy, program evaluation and statistical methodology. Her research interests include problem solving and decision making, creativity and innovation, leadership, organizational motivation, survey design and program effectiveness. Ms. Herman has spoken at many conferences and her research has appeared in several publications. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Leadership, Business Strategy, Organizational Behavior and Behavioral Statistics.

Ms. Herman is a member of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Academy of Management, American Psychological Association and the Organization Development Network. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology and is currently a Doctoral candidate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.