19
cho-uc
4y

I attended a 2-days scientific conference last week which lasted from 9 AM-7 PM.
I submit my travel expenses today and the university adm got guts to tell me that
I should commute 6 hours everyday to that place instead of staying in a hotel.

Please people, I contribute making our research and name renown to the public. I don't even get paid doing that (did it for the sake of experience).
The least you can do is to support the accomodation. The penny pinching you did in the name of cost saving is embarrasing.

I didn't like every hour spent working in the uni, yet people still ask me why I won't continue to PhD.
No offence to all PhDs out there. It's just that my practical and money-oriented ass couldn't
stand all the free work I have to do if I do that.
I'd rather work in a supermarket, at least I'm getting paid of what I'm worth.
😕

Comments
  • 4
    I will get a Phd someday. If somebody pulls something similar off on me that will become a international scandal i can guarrantee.
  • 2
    You are worth more then working in supermarket. Also learn from this opportunity, go and appeal to this or talk with someone higher and fight for it out of principle. Laying low is not an option and doesnt build your confidence. If u learn to be an asshole in this environment to get what youre worth then u wont have problems with for lets say getting a raise in a job few years later. Dont expect the world to care about you or be fair all the time. If they dont give it, take it.
  • 2
    @Gregozor2121

    It's not just me. Someone told me that even a very senior professor got hassled for trying to reimburse an overnight parking (he arrived very late in the night and didn't want to drive home so he let his car stayed at train station).

    FFS, can they at least give him some respect and reimburse the money...
    😤
  • 6
    Academia is built on the back of cheap/free grad student labor
  • 3
    I once had my expenses refused because I travelled by car, and it would have been cheaper to go by train.

    ...by 50p. Plus I would have had to wait 5 hours overnight on a platform. Plus it would have taken 10 times as long.

    Yeah, screw that. Was one of the deciding factors for me bailing after the PhD and moving to industry.
  • 1
    @zemaitis
    Awww.. thanks for that.
    I will surely complain to my boss next week when I see him. But I doubt that he can do anything about it. It's the ground rule that even a senior level position doesn't have a power to veto.

    As @AlmondSauce said, this event will only strengthen my decision of not pursuing a career in academics once I graduate
  • 2
    Academia is like corporations, sometimes you can get shitty ones too. Mine is great, the dont do shit like that.
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