Laziness vs. Leadership

The lab I work in, like many others, has been living in fear of bankruptcy-- the last few grant proposals have been rejected, and what money we have is stretched tight. I often get the feeling that my advisor thinks this is the fault of the postdocs and grad students- that if we would just work a little harder for a little less, our funding problems would be solved.

University research labs are not alone in blaming their predicament on the greed and laziness of their lowest-paid workers- the leadership of the American auto industry is doing the same thing when they complain about the high price of unionized American auto workers. I suggest that those leaders also look at their own decisions over the past few decades as an explanation for their current crisis: for example, the decision to develop large, fuel-guzzling, once-profitable trucks and SUV's while neglecting fuel-efficient compact cars and hybrids. The lowest paid workers were in no position to challenge that lapse in judgement, and no amount of hard work or sacrifice on their part could have made up for it.

So, professors, do you really think the problem is that your American postdocs are too greedy and lazy? Perhaps the financial strain science labs are experiencing is a reflection on scientific leadership, not just on the people who work in those labs. After all, many professors seem eager to make it clear that they are in charge-- my advisor certainly has no qualms telling postdocs how to spend their time. That's fine, but if you're the decider, then next time one of your grant proposals is rejected, you need to reflect on the quality of your decisions. They're probably more important than whether or not I come in to the lab on weekends.