Ariel Avgar is the David M. Cohen Professor of Labor Relations, Law, and History, and the Academic Director of the Center for Applied Research on Work at the Cornell University ILR School.
Professor Avgar’s research focuses on two primary areas within employment relations. First, he explores the role that employment relations factors play in the healthcare industry. As such, he examines the effects of a variety of workplace innovations, including new technology, delivery of care models, and innovative work practices, on patients, frontline employees, and organizational performance. Second, Professor Avgar studies conflict and its management in organizations with a focus on the strategic choices made by firms. He seeks to better understand the consequences of conflict for employees and employers. Professor Avgar also investigates the adoption and implementation of organizational-level conflict management practices and systems.
Professor Avgar’s research has been published in a number of journals, including Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Industrial Relations, British Journal of Industrial Relations, Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, International Journal of Conflict Management, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Negotiation and Conflict Management Review, Advances in Industrial and Labor Relations, Health Services Research, and Medical Care.
Professor Avgar received the 2008 Best Dissertation Award and the 2013 John T. Dunlop Scholar Award, both from the Labor and Employment Relations Association and serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the association. His paper (with Eric J. Neuman) titled “Blind spots and mirages: A dyadic approach to the study of team conflict” received the 2012 Best Paper: New Directions Award from the Academy of Management Conflict Management Division.
Professor Avgar earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations from the ILR School at Cornell University and a B.A. in Sociology and an LL.B in Law from Hebrew University. He served as Law Clerk for the President of the Israeli National Labor Court before being admitted into the Israeli Bar. Prior to joining ILR, Professor Avgar was an associate professor (2014 to 2016) and assistant professor (2008 to 2014) at the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.