>
> Many thanks to Dora for sharing her personal experience, and to Oli for his general comments on human resources practice within the science communication sector. I have alerted my colleagues in the NUJ's campaigns and legal departments, and they have asked me to keep them informed of any developments, whether positive or negative. If there is no further response from the Royal Society, the NUJ will consider its options.
>
> It is important that we do not judge this case on Katherine Jarrett's hastily drafted and somewhat insensitively worded statement, or with all due respect to Dora on her negative experience with the Royal Society. The reasons for such poor behaviour on the part of recruiters are many and various, and can range from simple oversight and overwork on the one hand, through to psychopathic managerialism in the most extreme cases.
>
> Whatever the reasons, such behaviour is grossly disrespectful of applicants who go about their job searches in a diligent and professional manner, investing a considerable amount of time in the process. That is time which might otherwise be spent in financially fruitful endeavours.
>
> On the positive side, when it comes to the fair treatment of interns and casual staff in the communications industry, constructive campaigning by the NUJ and others has led to substantive change. Unpaid internships are now considered unlawful, regulations governing voluntary work programmes are under close scrutiny, and employers increasingly see the benefits to to all concerned of paying at the very minimum a Living Wage.
>
> Francis
>
>
> On 25 Apr 13, at 10:36, "Usher, Oli" <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Dora’s email about applying to the Summer Science Exhibition struck a chord with me.
> >
> > I’m always astonished at how badly a lot of organisations in science communication treat job applicants – terse replies, no (or useless) interview feedback, long and time-wasting applications procedures, no replies to applications, not bothering to inform applicants of the results of interviews, etc. All of this for people who have invested hours of their time researching your organisation and putting together an application.
> >
> > It’s incredibly rude. It’s also really short-sighted. Science communication is a small field and you keep coming across the same people and organisations. Make a bad impression like this and you cause lasting damage to your personal and institutional reputation among people you will most likely be interacting with in future.
> >
> > The cost in time and money of replying to applications is a cost of doing business. You can’t tell HMRC that ‘due to the large volume of contracts you’re only going to declare your 5 biggest transactions this year’. There’s no excuse for doing this with applicants.
> >
> > Oli
> >
> > -----------------------------------
> > Oli Usher
> > Communications, Marketing and Events Manager
> > Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
> >
> > University College London
> > Gower Street
> > London WC1E 6BT
> >
> > Tel: 020 7679 7964
> >
> > Web:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/maps-faculty> > Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/uclmaps> > Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/uclmaps> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:
[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dora Coventry
> > Sent: 23 April 2013 21:12
> > To:
[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Volunteering at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
> >
> > A personal perspective of volunteering at the Summer Science Exhibition:
> >
> > I applied to volunteer at the Summer Science Exhibition last year, which involved a full job-application-style procedure. I had a strong CV with science communication and volunteering experience, as well as being in the middle of a History and Sociology of Science Masters. I received no response to my application at all, even after emailing several times, and so had to phone to follow up - in fact, phone twice. I received a terse email in response informing me that my volunteering services were not required that year. Having pointed out that I was less than satisfied with the way my application had been handled I only received a further evasive, corporate-esque email.
> >
> > If this is an indication of how eager, competent graduate volunteers are valued by the Royal Society, I find it very hard to believe that "we try to make this experience as useful to the volunteers as possible and aim to place them in roles that satisfy their desires," and indeed it should not be surprising that a basic living wage is not paid to volunteers.
> >
> > Having also studied the roles and potential tasks of an exhibition volunteer, I also agree whole heartedly with Francis that these do constitute those of casual staff and that paying a London living wage for a week would be a tiny financial burden. I was lucky enough to be able to support myself living in London, but unpaid volunteering and work experiences such as this simply prohibit those who can't afford it from entering this field of work.
> >
> > Dora Coventry
> > Academic Marketing Assistant
> > Bloomsbury Publishing
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 8:35 PM, Francis Sedgemore <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > In response to Katherine Jarrett of the Royal Society...
> >
> > Going by the tasks undertaken by exhibition volunteers, it is clear that they provide the Royal Society with a tangible economic benefit, and can thus be regarded as casual staff. This is so even if the Royal Society provides volunteers with opportunities to gain experience and develop marketable skills. The same can be said about any job, at any level from cleaner to chief executive.
> >
> > Given that the exhibition is the only Royal Society activity which involves the use of volunteers, this reinforces the argument that to pay them a living wage for the limited duration of their appointment would impose a relatively minor financial burden on the society.
> >
> > Francis
> >
> > On 23 Apr 13, at 19:55, "Tham, Camilla" <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > Posted on behalf of Katherine Jarrett, Head of Science Communication at the Royal Society.
> > >
> > > Thank you for your comments. We hold the Summer Science Exhibition once a year for a seven day period and the volunteer opportunities we offer are for this week only.
> > >
> > > The Royal Society has offered volunteering opportunities for the Summer Science Exhibition for the last 4 years, but we would like to be clear that whilst the additional capacity is welcome it is not essential to the delivery of the Exhibition. It is offered as an opportunity for the volunteers to get involved in an exciting week. We have a number of people volunteering to help us throughout the year but this is the only time we are able to offer the opportunity. The volunteers are not temporary or casual staff or interns, we do not hold them to producing work and if they need to drop out it does not affect the running of the Exhibition.
> > >
> > > Volunteering is a highly valued activity in the UK and here at the Royal Society. That is why we try to make this experience as useful to the volunteers as possible and aim to place them in roles that satisfy their desires. The Exhibition is a busy event but it is also very enjoyable and rewarding to work on and we hope our volunteers will enjoy their time with us as much as those who have volunteered with us in the past.
> > >
> > > We ensure that all volunteers are aware of health & safety regulations and fire procedures. We also accept liability for all volunteers through an adequate insurance policy. We have a written Volunteer Policy that states what the Royal Society requires of the volunteers and also what the volunteers should expect from the Society.
> > >
> > > On the separate issue of internships the Royal Society does believe in treating people fairly and that is why we now have a paid internship scheme as previously highlighted on psci-com.
> >
> > --
> > Dr Francis Sedgemore
> > journalist, writer and physicist
> > telephone:
+44 7840 191336> > website:
sedgemore.com> >
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> --
> Dr Francis Sedgemore
> journalist, writer and physicist
> telephone:
+44 7840 191336> website:
sedgemore.com>
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