Academics. Please, please, please do not ask people to work for free.
I've had multiple requests this month for help overhauling courses, providing teaching and creating departmental strategies for student pastoral care.
I can do all these things but I cannot do them for free.

Paying for my time and skills is
a. right
b. fair
c. lets me volunteer to support those who are genuinely facing financial hardship.

There are *no* bonuses for me for working for free to help you benefit yourself or your university.

Also if you're working for a university and want someone to do free work for you, put this *at the start of your email*.

I'm going to think a lot less kindly of you if I've waded through a lengthy description of what seems like a legit job offer to discover it's not.

I also don't need to hear how my skills and experiences and expertise and track record make me ideally suited to your venture. I mean I am but it makes the 'but we can't pay you' or 'we don't have a budget' even more offensive. If you truly recognise my skills,you'd pay for them

If you're an academic in a secure and paid role can I also request that if you're refusing one these unpaid opportunities that you explain why it's a problem rather than nominating others in freelance, precarious or consultancy roles for the job. Or anyone, actually.

And if you want people to advise you,help transform your programme,alter your teaching,set up new degrees or consolidate work - get a budget to pay for advice/consultancy before approaching people. I am not going to be tempted by exposure or the possibility of future paid work.

Finally it doesn't matter how much work there is or what level of skill's needed. I didn't like being expected to work for free when I was just starting out and I don't like it now I'm established in my field. We need to fight exploitation in academia not fuel it. Resist.

Btw since I wrote this thread I’ve had another email asking me to run a workshop on student mental health. Apparently since I wrote a book on the subject I won’t need to be paid.

Term has started and despite the warnings of deteriorating mental health and staff and students needing care it seems many institutions haven’t addressed this at all, now recognise a crisis and expect that people will come to fix it with no notice and for free.