PRO-WORKER POLICIES
Research labs are among the most exploitative workplaces in the country. Abuse, bullying, harassment, and overwork are extremely common—in one study, a staggering 84% of participants reported having experienced some kind of bullying. For scholars of color, the problem is more serious. And acutely abusive situations are not the only things creating attrition: nearly a third of new parents—including men—end up leaving full-time work in STEM fields, often because their institutions simply do not have pro-family policies in place. International scholars, whose spouses need separate work authorization, are especially vulnerable to both forms of pressure
“Publicly-funded research should be undertaken by workers reflecting the diversity of the public they serve. We call on the NIH to develop grant and career pathways for international researchers; set basic standards for grant-funded institutions to protect researchers against discrimination, bullying, and harassment; support parents and caregivers; guarantee accommodations for disabled workers; and respect workers’ right to free speech, inquiry, and expression.”
– From our letter to the NIH
As these scholars leave publicly funded research in the US—either for the corporate world or for research institutions in other countries—the entire American research enterprise suffers. Many institutions have tried to solve this problem piecemeal, but only the NIH has the power to set basic standards for protections from abuse and harassment across the entire sector. If it is thorough about doing so, it can make American research once again work in the public interest, and keep it the world leader in scientific innovation.