Readers and Tutors – Unpaid Work
Wed Oct 21 2015Standards
Members are reminded of paragraphs 46 and 47 of the Reader / Tutor Guidelines which provide guidance on the payment of readers in circumstances where they undertake devilling work for tutors.
Although no rigid rule is laid down, it is important to recognise that readers are not unpaid research assistants. It is inappropriate for tutors to require readers to undertake significant work without sharing the benefits that flow from that work.
Readers should not expect to be paid for all the work that they undertake for their tutors. The work is often given for the reader's benefit, not for that of the tutors. An expectation by readers of payment for all work undertaken will only lead to a 'drying up' of the opportunities to learn from doing work. On the other hand, an expectation by tutors of significant work being undertaken by readers without payment and without sharing any benefits of such work is inappropriate and exploitative.
It is important that readers and tutors understand and accept the ground rules at the outset and that an arrangement be reached whereby readers are remunerated for significant work undertaken for their tutors.