[RBJamez]

Yeah well... it's not that the University lacks the intelligence or competence of how it should be done. There are rules. It's just that they are not followed in a strict manner. What I mean by this is that doctorate students are at the very low end of the food chain, and they have no rights. Some of them, like myself, are employed there. That means I should have basic employee rights, but when it comes to that, then you're just a student.

I emphasize that it's not that studies are difficult and take a lot of work. That's obvious. But we are in a constant breach of agreements. My workload gets bigger and bigger all the time, and yet my pay stays the same. Sure, I can always say, which I do, that I don't think this is one of my tasks, but since you get new terms that last 3 months per term, you're ****ed if you become difficult. I mean you are, if you have an ******* for a boss who fully exploits the situation, and my boss does. IF you had a boss that sort of was interested in his or her employees in other ways as well than pure resources, it would be different. That's what the rules are there for, to secure people's rights, so situations don't get out of the hand. Unfortunately they do.

Of course there's staff to help in situations like these. They are there just to be on your side. I went to see the head honcho of this department. I complained that my boss is violating our agreements on a regular basis, starting from the contract to other miscellaneous issues on a daily basis. So the head honcho asked a bunch of questions, zeroing in if I had been a victim of work abuse related to gender issues. It was a total wtf moment. Who CARES if I'm a man or a woman, these issues are not gender related! And after that, she was not interested about the breaches of agreements but said they want to keep students who have advanced well and it would be a pity to lose me. OK. Thanks for the help and advice.

I have no complaints of having to do a dissertation without guidance. Or that it is assumed to finish fast. I have complaints about work abuse. But when it comes to that, and you're at the bottom, you have no chance. So all I can do is go to the dean now and it won't probably do anything good for me except I get to tell what has happened and to let them know what kind of abuses are handed out, some of which might not be legal. Some are definitely illegal, but they do not concern me only, and I don't want to drag other people with me and get them trouble as well.

One thing is for sure. If you're at the bottom, there's no such things as employee rights, it's just a nice word. Unless you hire a lawyer that is or join a union. If you go solo, you're ****ed.