faculty ordered to keep work diaries https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/my-university-has-asked-me-keep-diary-my-work-and-i-hate-it
I agree that this to those who are not used to putting together such diaries that there is and will be the expected backlash. But with universities starting to face increased scrutiny over funding allocations and rising tuition, I could definitely see a situation where faculty are used as scapegoats, with those who are unwilling to document how they are spending their time or who are deemed to be "underperforming" what is expected in regards to time-to-work output, being used as the "real" problems with rising higher education costs. If implemented properly, these could provide a degree of accountability, but the downsides could lead to drawing attention away from the real source of higher education financial issues.
I have to document my work down to 1/10 of an hour if I want to get paid. I get itemized bill from a restaurant. I expect a general contractor to provide a time table, and associated costs. How is asking for details for the money, "surveillance"? Is this too plebeian for professors?
I have seen how "consultant" friends of mine bill hours and expenses. If we start to go down that road in academia, things could get really expensive really quick!
It is not too expensive now? But, I think it would be lower... They could not bill for the assistants' and aides' work, summer break, winter break, spring break, before their arrival at 1000, or after a long day and departure at 1530.
I have to account for my time at work. I always have. Accounting for your time is really, really standard, isn't it? The tricky part comes with having a list of acceptable activities. It's easy to write "3 hours - coffee + Facebook" but is it an acceptable use of time? Perhaps our delicate snowflake Professors are concerned that "reading and chatting in the faculty lounge" will not be seen as acceptable?:wink1: