This came up with a senior HR person (at a place that shall remain nameless), recently. Exclaiming that he didn’t accept staff felt uncomfortable or scared raising issues... as though mass insecure employment has no effect on this. https://amp.abc.net.au/article/12462030?__twitter_impression=true

It is not just the stress of insecure employment - which is awful in your day to day life. It is the chilling effect that this has had on the academy in so many ways. There is generally no follow up to find out why a casual contract wasn’t renewed or extended. You want work?...

Don’t rock the boat. Don’t ask for anything. Don’t piss anyone off. Don’t mention your employment rights. Don’t criticise your institution. Don’t stand up for anything publicly. It’s all on someone’s whim whether or not your employed again, so just smile... or else.