Monday B*tchfest 3.29

keikilove

Need to vent? Let it out here. 

bumblebee0210

Can I monday b*tch on Wednesday? Because the university I work for just told me that the COVID relief that I am getting this year may *replace* future parental leave. Basically they have a policy that pre-tenure faculty get a tenure clock extension when they have a kid, but they limit that to two extensions. They offered us a tenure extension also for COVID-related research disruptions. At the time, they said it didn't count against the two-extension limit, but now they are saying that in the future, if I have a kid, I may already have hit the limit, and thus would not get the extension. 

So they are basically just giving COVID help to pre-tenure faculty who are not going to have a kid in the next 5 years. And of course I am the only woman, so these are mostly men getting extensions for their wives giving birth anyway. I am *livid*. 

stormageddon-darklordofall

@bumblebee0210 Ugh.  That sucks, I'm sorry.  Also, what if you had already HAD your 2 extensions?  Then could you take the COVID extension?  So, it's ok if you had your kids already and now need a 3rd extension for COVID, but not if it's in the opposite order?  BS!

bumblebee0210

Yes, basically. There is one guy in my department who is in that boat and I think he got the extension. I was like "Ok so your policy is: we will give you COVID relief if you promise not to have a kid in the next 5 years?" That is problematic. 

chgilmore

@bumblebee0210 I am constantly astounded by how family-hostile companies can be. I'm sorry they're putting you in this position, it's awful.

bumblebee0210

Meanwhile they are like "why can't we recruit any women???"

keikilove

@bumblebee0210 Uuuuugghhh!! You have every right to be livid. These kinds of policies make my blood boil. 😡 That last part you said about it being all men (besides you) who will get the extensions for their wives giving birth:  Are you able to present that fact to someone with authority to do something about the current policy? 

acleverusername

@bumblebee0210 gosh; that really blows!!! It sounds like it’s still tentative? Is there any way you can influence that decision? Are you unionized? 

bows22

@bumblebee0210 um, no. That is total bullshit. I’m sorry your employer sucks right now. I am
in a similar only female position and I constantly am choosing my battles. Yours is a battle I would fight for sure. I’m so pissed for you. 

bumblebee0210

This is actually the thing that is so annoying about academia (at least at my University)-- everything is like "tentative" and "negotiable". I work much better when there are clear rules and policies, and when you are junior faculty you *really* have to pick your battles because all of the senior faculty are going to vote on your tenure case. Luckily, it appears that this is more of a dean being crappy, and my senior colleagues are really on my side (it was actually a male senior colleague who warned me they might try this loophole, and told me I should complain now and he would fight it if they pushed back). 

anniemarie887

@bumblebee0210 from an HR standpoint that's kind of a red flag, it's one thing to say tie PTO to tenure and give more for more years, but when you're talking about applying policies they need to be equitable among staff. i also totally understand the position you're in about not wanting to make a stink, but it might be worth a convo with your HR person in the "help me understand..." frameset.