I should have been more explicit. I was not refering to those situtations where the post-doc has full freedom to stop lab/field work before their tenures expire and take some time to write and publish and prefers to continue to collect data. Perhaps they wish to take advantage of the opportunities, equipment, season or what-have-you. Many of us have willingly volunteered the extra hours over months or years to have results see the light of day and benefit Science. What I was refering to are situations where, due to poor management by the PI, the post-doc gets steam-rolled into lab or field work right up to the time of departure and is expected (i.e., coerced) into a situation where the results will never get published unless the individual continues to work uncompensated while they try to build a career elsewhere. The alternative is risking recommendations and reputation for subsequent employment opportunities. This is why I called it abuse.
Cordially yours, Geoff Patton, Ph.D. Wheaton, MD 20902 "Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits." Mark Twain From: George Wang <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 1:36 PM >Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Post-doc abuse; was faculty overtime > >I agree with Judith. I am still working on manuscripts pertaining to the >postdoc work I did for which funding ended three years ago. Never for once >did I consider it as "abuse" or "slave work". In fact, working on them is >one of the few opportunities of enjoyment I have these days (especially >when my manuscript submissions get accepted). >-GW > >On Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:28:16 -0500, Judith S. Weis ><[email protected]> wrote: > >>That's quite reasonable. Publishing work done in the previous mentor's lab >>will be more beneficial to the postdoc's fledgling career than the former >>mentor's. It's not the "mentor's work" its the postdoc's work, or their >>joint work and the postdoc will likely be the first author. >> >> >>> Related to this is the practice of "letting go" (i.e., not renewing or >>> higher-level hiring) post docs and still expecting them to be actively >>> engaged in publishing the mentor's work up to a year or more later. >>> >>> Geoff Patton >>> Wheaton, MD >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Feb 14, 2013, at 6:47 PM, David Inouye <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I suspect most faculty fall into this exempt category. >>>> >>>> http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/fairpay/fs17d_professional.pdf >>>> >>>> Fact Sheet #17D: Exemption for Professional Employees Under the Fair >>>> Labor Standards Act (FLSA) >>>> This fact sheet provides general information on the exemption from >>>> minimum wage and overtime pay provided by Section 13(a)(1) of the Fair >>>> Labor Standards Act as defined by Regulations, 29 CFR Part 541. >>>> The FLSA requires that most employees in the United States be paid at >>>> least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at >>>> time and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 >>>> hours in a workweek. >>>> However, Section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA provides an exemption from both >>>> minimum wage and overtime pay for employees employed as bona fide >>>> executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees. >>>> Section 13(a)(1) and Section 13(a)(17) also exempt certain computer >>>> employees. To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet >>>> certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis >>>> at not less than $455 per week. >>>> >>>> At 06:10 PM 2/14/2013, Aaron T. Dossey <[email protected]>wrote: >>>> >>>>> Doesn't a requirement that a salaried employee work more than 40 hours >>>>> (literally or de-facto) violate labor laws? Maybe it's just a matter >of >>>>> a greater need for <professors, sit down for this one> law >enforcement, >>>>> accountability and transparency? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 2/14/2013 3:08 PM, Judith S. Weis wrote: >>>>>> It should be strongly recommended to all grad school applicants to >>>>>> learn >>>>>> about their potential advisors ahead of time by talking to grad >>>>>> students >>>>>> in that lab and in other labs. That way you can find out about the >>>>>> person's attitudes towards grad students having a life, having a >>>>>> family >>>>>> etc. and whether or not they demand 12-hour days and weekends etc. >>>>>> That >>>>>> way you know what you will be getting into and can make a more >>>>>> informed >>>>>> choice of advisor. There are many humane professors out there. I'd >>>>>> like to >>>>>> think that I have been one of them. >>> >>========================================================================= > > >
