I am an Assistant Professor of Organization and Human Behaviour at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, University of Waterloo. I received my PhD in Sociology from the University of Toronto. As a sociologist of work and culture, I study how culture ­– via discourse, conventions, practice, and norms – shapes inequality and uncertainty in work outcomes. I have two streams of research that examine the unintended consequences of social policies aimed at reducing workplace inequalities:

Remote work, flexible work, and inequality:

• During my SSHRC-funded postdoctoral fellowship, I interviewed people working in the technology division of a large company to examine how the social organization of tech workspaces influences parents’ perception and use of flexible work arrangements.  This project pays particular attention to fathers’ perception and uses of flexible work arrangements, in light of changing norms of fatherhood and the desire to be more involved in unpaid care work. I am expanding on this research with Andrea Doucet by examining the relationship between fathers’ use of flexible work arrangements and parental leave policy, and the implications of policy usage for fathers’ involvement in childrearing.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion in creative industries:

• I am collaborating with Alanna Stuart on a project that examines how creative workers engage with diversity and inclusion. We interview music industry workers and performing artists in order to analyze the unintended consequences of diversity quotas (for example, through representation on festival and concert bills) for racialized workers and performers. In collaboration with the Canadian Live Music Association, we wrote a report on the experiences of Indigenous, Black, and people of colour live music workers, with a series of policy recommendations for how the live music community can facilitate equity and inclusivity.