More universities use zero-hours contracts than research shows

By Carrie Dunn. Lack of job security and extra non-contracted workload traps early career academics in a vicious cycle, says Carrie Dunn. I was interested to see the research by the Universities and Colleges Union that found that universities are twice as likely to use zero-hours contracts as other industries. Well, I say interested – I was more surprised: surprised that it was only twice as likely. The casualisation of teaching staff in higher education has been a problem for years. When I first began teaching, shortly after I'd begun my PhD, I was asked to take on the entire teaching load of one of the department's senior members of staff, who was off on a research sabbatical. Of course, being young and wanting the money, I agreed. More...