Australia’s scientists are involved in a broad range of activities in response to COVID-19, including preclinical testing of potential vaccines, researching virus mutations, monitoring wastewater, supporting manufacturing of surgical masks and forecasting infection rates. 

This is on top of conducting tens of thousands of Covid tests each day, the number of which have skyrocketed in recent weeks as states reach peak infection rates. This has put an immense amount of pressure on testing facilities across the country, with one NSW laboratory reporting its daily testing numbers increased from 3000 to between 20,000 or 30,000 per day. 

And while healthcare workers are most commonly associated with being front line workers, Australia’s scientists are also on the frontline helping to protect the community against the spread of the virus: and their mental health and wellbeing is suffering as a result. 

New survey results are in 

An annual survey conducted by Science & Technology Australia and Professional Scientists Australia found an increase in staff fatigue in 71 percent of respondents – up from 55 percent in 2020 – while almost two in three scientists reported a drop in morale. 

Of the 1,275 scientists surveyed, one in four were on fixed-term work contracts, with an average contract length of 18 months, and one in five intended on leaving the professional permanently. 

Science & Technology Australia CEO Misha Schubert says that the pandemic, coupled with the precarious nature of work, is finally taking its toll on the scientific workforce. 

“There’s a huge risk many more brilliant scientists will hit breaking point and just walk away”, she says.

“We’re seeing rising levels of fatigue, a bleak drop in morale and widespread job insecurity with job losses at universities and precarious short-term contracts.” 

Overtime and underpay 

While there has been unprecedented reliance on scientific research and expertise throughout the pandemic, 40 percent of scientists have not had a pay increase in the last year, while seven percent of scientists reported taking a pay cut as a result of Covid-19. 

Respondents worked an average of 7.5 hours overtime each week, with 59 percent reporting they received no extra pay or compensation for their overtime work. 

Furthermore, the survey also found a gender pay gap of 17 percent between female and male scientists, unchanged from the previous year. The survey found this was attributable to factors including women being concentrated in less senior roles, and there being fewer women than men over 45 in the scientific workforce. 

What this means for employers 

Job ads for Scientific and Technical professionals increased by 4.1 percent between August and September of this year. So with staff in demand and a potential threat of resignations, it is imperative for scientific employers to focus on their retention strategy during this time, as well as their recruitment efforts. 

Now might be a good time for employers to revisit their current Employee Value Proposition and assess whether it is doing enough to attract and retain scientific employees against the backdrop of the pandemic. From mental health consideration to flexibility, this article reveals some pertinent considerations for employers. 

If you’re looking to hire scientific professionals or require assistance with workforce management solutions during this busy time, contact Bayside Group today. Our specialist Consultants understand the unique requirements of our scientific employers, so can tailor our services to your needs.