Rolling with the Punches: Perspectives of Human Resources and Line Management on Contract Academics

The higher education sector endured significant transformations over the past few decades. One such aspect is university employment practice. Precarious employment has become extensive owing to cost-saving measures characteristic of modern-day university management. The literature captured contract academics’ employment experience, described as exploitative and dehumanising; however, the perspectives of line management and human resources (HR) professionals have yet to be explored; therefore, this study offers the organisational perspective, and further insight into the attempt to improve the employment experience of those in precarious and vulnerable employment. The study employed an interpretive paradigm with a qualitative research approach. Interviews were conducted with three HR professionals and three department heads from two South African universities. The findings confirm the misalignment with role expectations, role disillusionment, and a breach in the psychological contract of academics, line management, and HR within the employment relationship; therefore, a perceptible need exists to reassess the policies governing the contract employment process, ensuring policies are comprehensive in regulating the needs of all employee categories while ensuring fair and equitable treatment within the employment experience.