In a recent article for The Conversation, Natalie Adamyk (University of Toronto) discusses how contract academics make emotional sense out of job situations that may not make logical sense. Through interviews with 40 contract academics, Adamyk found that these instructors often rely on both previous and current employment experiences to infuse a deeper, personal meaning into their current roles. In doing so, contract academics exercise valuable skills related to emotional capital and emotional management, which in turn allow them to “make sense” of their work at universities where they may feel less valued or supported. “As contractual employment becomes increasingly prevalent and contract workers dominate many sectors, their work and emotional lives deserve to be taken seriously and explored in greater depth,” writes Adamyk.
