Robbie

My mornings are a mish mash, in and out of own time, but in the evenings I leave work behind.

Robbie is a migrant contract researcher, and the first person in his family to go to university. Even though he enjoys his work, he struggles to see a viable career for himself in the current context. With a chronic health condition that is triggered by tiredness and stress, he cannot see how to stay with the workload and lack of work-life balance that exists in the sector.

Robbie’s contract ends soon, although it might get extended: ‘that uncertainty is very stressful’, he says. The anxiety around what the next job will look like is exacerbated by his status as a migrant on a visa: ‘If my contract isn’t extended, it means I have to get on a very expensive flight across the world, not knowing where I’m going next.’ He wants ‘a career that doesn’t exist’: a permanent long-term researcher role with work-life balance.

Robbie’s comic: ‘The In-between’

Robbie is a researcher in biological sciences. His current contract will end in a few months.
[Image Description] Robbie’s journey home from the office.

“My own time starts when I leave the office.”
[Image Description] Robbie’s office windows, with one light still on.

“My bus ride to work is 45 minutes each way.”

“I have to actively make the choice to think about things other than work.”
[Image Description] Robbie walking.

[Image Description] Robbie waiting at the bus stop, others also waiting.

“I don’t always succeed. Sometimes I write and respond to emails on my phone.”

“I don’t always see the line of work and not work. If I’m reading a paper, is that work?”
[Image Description] Robbie looking at his mobile phone.

“I need to find out soon if my contract is extended.”
[Image Description] Robbie getting on the bus.

“It’s difficult not being a citizen. My family is on the other side of the world.”

“If my contract isn’t extended, it means I have to get on a very expensive flight, not knowing where I’m going next.”
[Image Description] Robbie sitting on the busy bus with headphones on.

“I have checkpoints on my bus ride.”
[Image Description] Robbie looking out of the bus window at a street building.

“There’s a point where I lose signal and my podcast will break up.”
[Image Description] Close up of Robbie’s phone.

“I call it my “wind down stop.””

“My own time is the time I completely switch off.”

“Forcing work out of my mind.”
[Image Description] Robbie with eyes closed.

“I don’t even talk about work with friends.”
[Image Description] Close up of phone showing audio book.

“I don’t want to climb the ladder.”

“Doing so would mean constantly working overtime, which I can’t do.”
[Image Description] X-ray-style outline of bus showing that Robbie is sitting upstairs.

“I have epilepsy, and tiredness and stress are triggers.”
[Image Description] Robbie ringing the bus bell and is about to stand up.

“Working my way up would mean meeting a demand for overwork… “
[Image Description] Robbie off the bus walking in the rain heading for the grocery shop.

“…and sacrificing my health and work-life balance.”
[Image Description] Carrying shopping in the rain.

“Rest is especially important to me. “

[Image Description] Key going into front door lock.

“I have to carve out space for it in my routine.”
[Image Description] Robbie on the sofa with shoes to the side.

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