Yesterday we had a long meeting of the curriculum council where people from the English Department complained that they are burned out because they do a lot of “hidden labor.” For thirty minutes we listened about hidden labor. Then a Middle Eastern colleague, who is notoriously non-PC, said, “What is this hidden labor you keep mentioning?”
“Well, for example, it’s when we spend time with students outside of the classroom,” somebody explained after the initial shock passed.
“So … office hours?” the Middle Eastern colleague asked. “It’s in the job description that we hold office hours. How is this unusual?”
“There are many other kinds of hidden labor,” another colleague, who is known for being very vocal, spluttered. “For example, I’m here at this meeting. This is hidden labor.”
“I can see you very well,” the Middle Eastern professor quipped. “You aren’t well-hidden.”
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