Professor Mike Baer’s research focuses on fairness and trust in the workplace. His work is centered on how leaders can improve employee performance and well-being by creating a culture of trust and accountability. He also researches employee traits that foster trust. His research is regularly published in top management journals, and has been covered by media outlets such as Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, PBS, NPR, Business Insider, FastCompany, Psychology Today, Men’s Health, Hidden Brain, and New York Magazine.

Professor Baer’s research has included a variety of industries across the world, including the transportation industry in England; accounting in Ireland; manufacturing in China and Australia; R&D and public utilities in India; healthcare, apparel, food, and education in the United States; and multiple government organizations. He has consulted with and provided leadership trainings to organizations including Starbucks, American Express, Harvard University’s Learning & Innovations Laboratory, AstraZeneca, BlueCross BlueShield, Avnet, USAA, SRP, and APS.

During his time at ASU, Professor Baer has received the Early-Career Research Award (2020) and the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (2022). He is currently an Associate Editor for one of the top academic journals in the management field—Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.

Prior to joining academia, Professor Baer worked in the construction industry, as well as in publishing and online education.