Portrait of Dr John Forth

Dr John Forth

Reader in Human Resources Management

Bayes Business School, Faculty of Management

Contact

Visit John Forth

Room BR4010A, Bunhill Row

Postal address

Bayes Business School
106 Bunhill Row
London
EC1Y 8TZ
United Kingdom

About

Overview

John Forth is a Reader in Human Resource Management at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass).

John's research focuses on patterns of work organisation and HRM, and their implications for job quality and productivity. Much of his current work is investigating the links between firms and wage inequality, using linked employer-employee data.

He is a lead researcher on the Wage and Employment Dynamics project (www.wagedynamics.com), funded by Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK), and co-leads an ESCoE-funded project with the Office for National Statistics to investigate options for developing a new linked employer-employee dataset for the UK.

His research has been published in a range of international journals, including The Economic Journal, the British Journal of Industrial Relations, Human Relations, Industrial Relations, Labour Economics, and the Human Resource Management Journal, and has been covered by all of the major media outlets including The Financial Times, The Guardian, BBC News and Sky News.

Recent funders of his research include the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), European Commission, the UK Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Health Foundation.

John currently teaches core modules on Human Resource Management on the Undergraduate and MBA programs.

Qualifications

  • Fellow, Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom, May 2022
  • PhD, City, University of London, United Kingdom, Feb 2022
  • MA Industrial Relations (with distinction), University of Warwick, United Kingdom, Sep 1994 – Jun 1995

Employment

  • Fellow, Institute for Labor Economics (IZA), Aug 2019 – present

Expertise

Primary topics

  • Human Resource Management
  • Industrial Relations/Labour Studies

Additional topics

  • Economics
  • Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management
  • Gender & Diversity Management

Publications

Books (5)

  1. Amossé, T., Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Petit, H. (Eds.), (2016). Comparative Workplace Employment Relations. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  2. Wanrooy, B.V., Bewley, H., Bryson, A., Forth, J., Freeth, S., Stokes, L. … Wood, S. (2013). Employment Relations in the Shadow of Recession Findings from the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-27577-6.
  3. Brown, W. (2009). The Evolution of the Modern Workplace. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-51456-9.
  4. Forth, J., Millward, N. and Bryson, A. (2000). All Change at Work? British Employment Relations 1980-1998, as portrayed by the Workplace Industrial Relations Survey series. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-20635-8.
  5. Kersley, B., Alpin, C., Forth, J., Bryson, A., Bewley, H., Dix, G. … Oxenbridge, S. Inside the Workplace. Routledge.

Chapters (20)

  1. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2023). Worker Representation. In Eriksson, T. (Ed.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Labour Studies (pp. 235–239). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. ISBN 978-1-80037-753-0.
  2. Forth, J. and Theodoropoulos, N. (2022). Earnings Discrimination in the Workplace. Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population Economics (pp. 1–24). Springer International Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-57365-6.
  3. Forth, J. and Rincon-Aznar, A. (2021). Where should low-wage sectors feature in an industrial strategy? In Berry, C. (Ed.), The Political Economy of Industrial Strategy in the UK Newcastle-Upon-Tyne: Agenda Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78821-339-4.
  4. Forth, J. (2019). The impact of entry regulations on business growth. In Rincon-Aznar, A., Fernández de Guevara, J., Forth, J., Maudos, J., Mollá, S., Pérez-García, F. … Perez, S. (Eds.), Structual Reforms in Spain (pp. 7–35). Brussels: European Commission. ISBN 978-92-79-73462-5.
  5. Forth, J., Rincon-Aznar, A. and Innes, D. (2018). Where should low-wage sectors feature in an industrial strategy? In Berry, C. (Ed.), What we really mean when we talk about industrial strategy (pp. 70–77). Manchester: Future Economies.
  6. Amossé, T., Forth, J. and Salibekyan, Z. (2016). Technical appendix. Comparative Workplace Employment Relations: An Analysis of Practice in Britain and France (pp. 255–275). ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  7. Askenazy, P. and Forth, J. (2016). Work Organisation and Human Resource Management: Does Context Matter? Comparative Workplace Employment Relations (pp. 141–177). Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  8. Amossé, T., Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Petit, H. (2016). Vive La Difference? Managing and Working in Britain and France. Comparative Workplace Employment Relations (pp. 241–253). Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  9. Amossé, T., Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Petit, H. (2016). Managing and Working in Britain and France: An Introduction. Comparative Workplace Employment Relations (pp. 1–26). Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  10. Forth, J., Petit, H. and Salibekyan, Z. (2016). Tenure, Skill Development, and Pay: The Role of Internal Labour Markets. Comparative Workplace Employment Relations (pp. 105–140). Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  11. Amossé, T. and Forth, J. (2016). Employee Expression and Representation at Work: Voice or Exit? Comparative Workplace Employment Relations (pp. 61–103). Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  12. Forth, J. and Rebérioux, A. (2016). Workplace Structure and Governance: How Do Employers Differ Between Britain and France? Comparative Workplace Employment Relations (pp. 27–60). Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-57418-3.
  13. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2016). The UK's productivity puzzle. In Askenazy, P., Bellmann, L., Bryson, A. and Moreno Galbis, E. (Eds.), Productivity Puzzles Across Europe (pp. 129–173). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-878616-0.
  14. Forth, J. and Dix, G. (2016). Exploring the Nature and Extent of Workplace Conflict. Reframing Resolution (pp. 35–56). Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-51559-9.
  15. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2011). Trade Unions. The Labour Market in Winter (pp. 255–271). Oxford University Press.
  16. Forth, J. and Bryson, A. (2010). The Evolution of the Modern Worker: Attitudes to Work. In Park, A., Curtis, J., Bryson, C. and Clery, E. (Eds.), British Social Attitudes The 27th Report SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-0-85702-572-2.
  17. Dex, S. and Forth, J. (2009). Equality and diversity at work. EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN WORKPLACE (pp. 230–255).
  18. Dix, G., Sisson, K. and Forth, J. (2009). Conflict at work: the changing pattern of disputes. EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN WORKPLACE (pp. 176–200).
  19. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2008). The Theory and Practice of Pay Setting. The SAGE Handbook of Industrial Relations (pp. 491–512). SAGE Publications Ltd.
  20. Forth, J., Bryson, A. and Millward, N. (1999). Changes in employment relations, 1980-1998. In Cully, M., Woodland, S. and O'Reilly, A. (Eds.), Britain at Work As Depicted by the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-20637-2.

Internet publications (2)

Journal articles (30)

  1. Amossé, T., Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Petit, H. (2024). The micro‐foundations of employment systems: An empirical case study of Britain and France. British Journal of Industrial Relations. doi:10.1111/bjir.12812.

    [publisher’s website]

  2. Whittard, D., Ritchie, F., Phan, V., Bryson, A., Forth, J., Stokes, L. … Singleton, C. (2023). The perils of pre-filling: Lessons from the UK’s Annual Survey of Hours and Earning microdata. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 39(3), pp. 661–677. doi:10.3233/sji-230013.

    [publisher’s website]

  3. Forth, J., Theodoropoulos, N. and Bryson, A. (2023). The role of the workplace in ethnic wage differentials. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 61(2), pp. 259–290. doi:10.1111/bjir.12696.

    [publisher’s website]

  4. Theodoropoulos, N., Forth, J. and Bryson, A. (2022). Are Women Doing It for Themselves? Female Managers and the Gender Wage Gap*. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 84(6), pp. 1329–1355. doi:10.1111/obes.12509.

    [publisher’s website]

  5. Bryson, A., Forth, J., Gray, H. and Stokes, L. (2020). Does Employing Older Workers Affect Workplace Performance? Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 59(4), pp. 532–562. doi:10.1111/irel.12265.

    [publisher’s website]

  6. Willman, P., Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2020). UK Unions, Collective Action and the Cost Disease. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 58(2), pp. 447–470. doi:10.1111/bjir.12471.

    [publisher’s website]

  7. Forth, J. and Bryson, A. (2019). Management practices and SME performance. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 66(4), pp. 527–558. doi:10.1111/sjpe.12209.
  8. Forth, J. and Bryson, A. (2019). State substitution for the trade union good: the case of paid holiday entitlements. Journal of Participation and Employee Ownership, 2(1), pp. 5–23. doi:10.1108/jpeo-06-2018-0022.

    [publisher’s website]

  9. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Stokes, L. (2018). The Performance Pay Premium and Wage Dispersion in Britain. The Manchester School, 86(2), pp. 139–154. doi:10.1111/manc.12174.

    [publisher’s website]

  10. Forth, J., Bryson, A. and George, A. (2017). Explaining cross-national variation in workplace employee representation. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 23(4), pp. 415–433. doi:10.1177/0959680117697861.

    [publisher’s website]

  11. Stokes, L., Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Weale, M. (2017). Who Fared Better? The Fortunes of Performance Pay and Fixed Pay Workers through Recession. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 55(4), pp. 778–801. doi:10.1111/bjir.12245.

    [publisher’s website]

  12. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Stokes, L. (2017). How much performance pay is there in the public sector and what are its effects? Human Resource Management Journal, 27(4), pp. 581–597. doi:10.1111/1748-8583.12153.

    [publisher’s website]

  13. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Stokes, L. (2017). Does employees’ subjective well-being affect workplace performance? Human Relations, 70(8), pp. 1017–1037. doi:10.1177/0018726717693073.

    [publisher’s website]

  14. Forth, J., Bryson, A. and Stokes, L. (2016). Are firms paying more for performance? International Journal of Manpower, 37(2), pp. 323–343. doi:10.1108/ijm-01-2015-0006.

    [publisher’s website]

  15. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Zhou, M. (2014). How Much Influence does the Chinese State have Over CEOs and their Compensation? pp. 1–23. doi:10.1108/s0885-333920140000015001.

    [publisher’s website]

  16. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Zhou, M. (2014). CEO Incentive Contracts in China: Why does City Location Matter? pp. 25–49. doi:10.1108/s0885-333920140000015009.

    [publisher’s website]

  17. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Zhou, M. (2014). Who posts performance bonds and why? Evidence from China's CEOs. China Economic Review, 30, pp. 520–529. doi:10.1016/j.chieco.2014.03.001.

    [publisher’s website]

  18. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Zhou, M. (2014). Same or Different? The CEO Labour Market in China's Public Listed Companies. The Economic Journal, 124(574). doi:10.1111/ecoj.12107.

    [publisher’s website]

  19. Riley, R., Metcalf, H. and Forth, J. (2013). The business case for equal opportunities. Industrial Relations Journal, 44(3), pp. 216–239. doi:10.1111/irj.12017.

    [publisher’s website]

  20. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Laroche, P. (2011). Evolution or revolution? The impact of unions on workplace performance in Britain and France. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 17(2), pp. 171–187. doi:10.1177/0959680111400907.

    [publisher’s website]

  21. Charlwood, A. and Forth, J. (2011). Les mutations de la représentation des salariés en Grande-Bretagne. La Revue de l'Ires, n° 68(1), pp. 43–73. doi:10.3917/rdli.068.0043.

    [publisher’s website]

  22. Forth, J., Bewley, H., Bryson, A., Dix, G. and Oxenbridge, S. (2010). Survey errors and survey costs: a response to Timming’s critique of the Survey of Employees Questionnaire in WERS 2004. Work, Employment and Society, 24(3), pp. 578–590. doi:10.1177/0950017010371647.

    [publisher’s website]

  23. Forth, J. and McNabb, R. (2008). Workplace performance: a comparison of subjective and objective measures in the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey. Industrial Relations Journal, 39(2), pp. 104–123. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2338.2007.00480.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  24. Blanchflower, D.G., Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2007). Workplace industrial relations in Britain, 1980–2004. Industrial Relations Journal, 38(4), pp. 285–302. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2338.2007.00449.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  25. Bryson, A., Charlwood, A. and Forth, J. (2006). Worker voice, managerial response and labour productivity: an empirical investigation. Industrial Relations Journal, 37(5), pp. 438–455. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2338.2006.00414.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  26. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Kirby, S. (2005). HIGH‐INVOLVEMENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, TRADE UNION REPRESENTATION AND WORKPLACE PERFORMANCE IN BRITAIN. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 52(3), pp. 451–491. doi:10.1111/j.0036-9292.2005.00352.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  27. Forth, J. and Metcalf, H. (2005). Comment on How to close the gender pay gap in Europe by Jill Rubery, Damian Grimshaw and Hugo Figueiredo. Industrial Relations Journal, 36(3), pp. 214–216. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2338.2005.00354.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  28. Forth, J. and Millward, N. (2004). High‐Involvement Management and Pay in Britain. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 43(1), pp. 98–119. doi:10.1111/j.0019-8676.2004.00320.x.

    [publisher’s website]

  29. Forth, J. and Millward, N. (2002). Union effects on pay levels in Britain. Labour Economics, 9(4), pp. 547–561. doi:10.1016/s0927-5371(02)00047-7.

    [publisher’s website]

  30. Forth, J. and Millward, N. (2001). The Impact of Unions on Pay Levels in Lower-Skilled Jobs. National Institute Economic Review, 176, pp. 76–90. doi:10.1177/002795010117600107.

    [publisher’s website]

Reports (48)

  1. Willman, P., Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2019). New Model Unions: Options for the 21st Century. London: Unions21.
  2. Forth, J., Askenazy, P. and Bryson, A. (2019). Human Resource Management Diffusion and Productivity Imbalances. London: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
  3. Forth, J. and Rincon-Aznar, A. (2018). Productivity in the UK’s low-wage industries: a comparative cross-country analysis. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. ISBN 978-1-911581-22-2.
  4. Rincon-Aznar, A., Fernández de Guevara, J., Forth, J., Maudos, J., Mollá, S., Pérez-García, F. … Perez, S. (2018). Structural Reforms in Spain. Luxembourg: European Commission.
  5. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2017). The Added Value of Trade Unions. London, UK: TUC.
  6. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2017). Wage Growth in Pay Review Body Occupations. UK: Office of Manpower Economics.
  7. Stokes, L., Bryson, A., Bewley, H. and Forth, J. (2017). Older workers and the workplace: evidence from the Workplace Employment Relations Survey. London, UK: Department for Work and Pensions. ISBN 978-1-911003-63-2.
  8. Bewley, H., Ebell, M. and Forth, J. (2016). Estimating the financial costs of pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination and disadvantage. Manchester, UK: Equality and Human Rights Commission. ISBN 978-1-84206-681-2.
  9. Rincon-Aznar, A., Forth, J., Mason, G., O'Mahony, M. and Bernini, M. (2015). UK Skills and Productivity in an International Context. London, UK: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
  10. Forth, J. (2014). An Overview of Employment Relations in the Acas Regions. ACAS. ISBN 978-1-908370-56-3.
  11. Metcalf, H. and Forth, J. (2014). Study into Average Civil Compensation in Mesothelioma Cases. London, UK: Department for Work and Pensions.
  12. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Stokes, L. (2014). Worker wellbeing and workplace performance. London, UK: Department for Business Innovation & Skills.
  13. Forth, J. and Metcalf, H. (2014). Young People’s Experiences in the Workplace. London, UK: ACAS.
  14. van Wanrooy, B., Bewley, H., Bryson, A., Forth, J., Freeth, S., Stokes, L. … Wood, S. (2013). The 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study: first findings. London, UK: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. ISBN 978-0-85605-770-0.
  15. Forth, J., Stokes, L., Fitzpatrick, A. and Grant, C. (2012). Employers' Pension Provision Survey 2011. London, UK: Department for Work and Pensions. ISBN 978-1-908523-72-3.
  16. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and George, A. (2012). Workplace Social Dialogue in Europe. Dublin, Ireland: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
  17. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2011). Work/life Balance and Trade Unions. London, UK: Trades Union Congress.
  18. Forth, J. and Bewley, H. (2010). Vulnerability and adverse treatment in the workplace. London, UK: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. ISBN 978-0-85605-759-5.
  19. Forth, J. and Stokes, L. (2010). Employers’ Pension Provision Survey 2009. London, UK: Department for Work and Pensions. ISBN 978-1-84712-835-5.
  20. Forth, J. and Bewley, H. (2010). Employers’ Attitudes and Likely Reactions to the Workplace Pension Reforms 2009. London, UK: Department for Work and Pensions. ISBN 978-1-84712-808-9.
  21. Bewley, H., Forth, J. and Robinson, C. (2010). Evaluation Methodology: Measurement of Drivers of Business Success and Failure. London, UK: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.
  22. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2010). Union Organisation and the Quality of Employment Relations. London, UK: Trades Union Congress.
  23. Forth, J. and Stokes, L. (2008). Employers’ Pension Provision Survey 2007. London: Department for Work and Pensions.
  24. Forth, J. and Rincon-Aznar, A. (2008). Equal Opportunities, Employee Attitudes and Workplace Performance. UK: Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. ISBN 978-0-85605-707-6.
  25. Forth, J., Harris, R., Robinson, C. and Rincon-Aznar, A. (2008). The Impact of Recent Upratings of the National Minimum Wage on Competitiveness, Business Performance and Sector Dynamics. London, UK: Low Pay Commission.
  26. Forth, J., Purdon, S., Hales, J., O'Connor, W. and Webster, S. (2008). Methodological Review of Research with Large Businesses. London, UK: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
  27. Riley, R., Metcalf, H. and Forth, J. (2008). The Business Case for Equal Opportunities: An Econometric Investigation. London, UK: Department for Work and Pensions.
  28. Forth, J. and Stokes, L. (2007). Employment Relations in London. London, UK: Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.
  29. Bryson, A. and Forth, J. (2007). Productivity and Days of the Week. London: RSA.
  30. Bryson, A., Forth, J. and Barber, C. (2006). Making Linked Employer-Employee Data Relevant to Policy. London, UK: Department of Trade and Industry.
  31. Forth, J., Bewley, H. and Bryson, A. (2006). Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. London, UK: Department of Trade and Industry. ISBN 0-85605-361-9.
  32. Delbridge, R., Edwards, P., Forth, J., Miskell, P. and Payne, J. (2006). The Organisation of Productivity: Re-thinking Skills and Work Organisation. London, UK: Advanced Institute of Management Research.
  33. Anderson, T., Millward, N. and Forth, J. (2004). Equal Opportunities Policies and Practice at the Workplace: Secondary Analysis of WERS98. London, UK: Department of Trade and Industry.
  34. Forth, J. and O'Mahony, M. (2003). The Impact of the National Minimum Wage on Labour Productivity and Unit Labour Costs: A Report to the Low Pay Commission. London, UK: National Institute Of Economic And Social Research.
  35. Mason, G., Wilson, R., Campbell, D., Dickerson, A., Forth, J., Hogarth, T. … Stevens, P. (2003). Employers Skills Surveys: New Analyses and Lessons Learned..
  36. Forth, J. and Mason, G. (2003). The Impact of Government Business Support Organisations: Evidence from the International Benchmarking Surveys. London, UK: National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
  37. Forth, J., Mason, G. and O'Mahony, M. (2002). Industrial Performance, ICT Investments and Workforce Skills: Literature and Statistical Review. London, UK: National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
  38. Forth, J. and Millward, N. (2002). The Growth of Direct Communication, London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. London, UK: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
  39. Millward, N., Forth, J. and Bryson, A. (2001). Who calls the Tune at Work? The Impact of Trade Unions on Jobs and Pay. York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. ISBN 1-902633-94-6.
  40. Anderson, T., Forth, J., Metcalf, H. and Kirby, S. (2001). The Gender Pay Gap. London, UK: Women and Equality Unit, Cabinet Office.
  41. Forth, J. and Millward, N. (1999). Employers' Pension Provision 1996. London, UK: Department of Social Security.
  42. Metcalf, H. and Forth, J. (1999). Business Benefits of Race Equality at Work. London, UK: Department for Education and Employment.
  43. Forth, J. and White, M. (1998). Pathways through Unemployment: The Effects of a Flexible Labour Market. York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  44. Callender, C., Millward, N., Lissenburgh, S. and Forth, J. (1997). Maternity Rights and Benefits in Britain, 1996. London, UK: Department of Social Security.
  45. Forth, J., Lissenburgh, S., Callender, C. and Millward, N. (1997). Family-Friendly Working Arrangements in Britain, 1996. London, UK: Department for Education and Employment.
  46. Kempson, E., White, M. and Forth, J. (1997). Rents and Work Incentives. London, UK: Policy Studies Institute.
  47. Forth, J. and Stokes, L. Employers' pension provision survey 2013. London, UK: Department for Work and Pensions. ISBN 978-1-910219-40-9.
  48. Forth, J., Bryson, A., Humphris, A., Koumenta, M. and Kleiner, M. A Review of Occupational Regulation and its Impact. London, UK: UKCES. ISBN 978-1-906597-77-1.