Whether it's climate change action or gender equality, speaking up for what you believe in at work can demand courage. And it can come at a price.
But for UNE graduate, and now lecturer and proud science nerd Mary McMillan there is a very clear line in the sand, whatever the consequences.
"When I first started working at the university, on short-term and casual contracts, I felt I had to behave in a certain way to fit in," she says. "I felt that I couldn't make waves or challenge anything because I was relying on the job and wanted everyone to like me. I didn't want to be seen as a trouble-maker, and that's an issue for a lot of people who work casually in any organisation."
"I kept mostly to myself. I didn't enjoy coming to work that much. I felt like I was constantly wearing a mask, and that's pretty tiring."
The security of full-time tenure was liberating. Mary promptly cut off her hair and dyed it pink, and became more forthright about expressing her opinions and calling out inappropriate behaviour. Her flamboyant hairdo has become her trademark ever since.
"It's much better for work relationships when people are being their authentic selves; it allows others to see you as a real person and to relate to you," Mary says. "Now I stand up for the things I believe in and it has helped me to develop more and broader relationships across the organisation. I've ended up working with people that share my vision and values."
Completing the Homeward Bound leadership program reminded Mary of the importance of authenticity and courage. "For me, a lot of it is about standing up for what's right," she says, which is why she has no hesitation in joining the last Global Climate Strike, whether or not it was sanctioned by management.
"I put up a note on my door saying 'Gone on Climate Strike' and posted an email reply saying 'Your emails can wait, but the plant can't' and headed out with my son to the protest," Mary says/ "I was prepared to have my pay docked if need be."
Troubled as they may be about the impacts of climate change, many Australian workers are grappling with how to express their views and maintain their jobs. Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Innovation) at UNE, Professor Steven Warburton, says one critical distinction is not only how you express your political viewpoint but also in what context.
"Organisations don't always provide clear guidelines and boundaries around expressing an opinion," he says. "In a university context, this often involves discussions about what constitutes academic freedom and the interplay with institutional autonomy, particularly when we defend the important role of universities in speaking truth to power. In New Zealand, for example, academics are encouraged to act as the critic of conscience of society by providing independent and expert advice to the public on issues that affect the national community. If so, what does that mean in terms of expounding a political viewpoint? Who are you representative of, and can you separate your personal and professional viewpoints?"
"You can't stop staff members from having a view. In fact, we need people to have opinions; that is our role. Universities are expected to have thoughtful and thought-provoking opinions; that's our job. Having an opinion is very important, but in being a university we expect that it will be reasoned, grounded and drawn from a critical set of thought processes. Universities are critical, research-driven and scholarly places, with a position of responsibility within our society, and our opinions carry weight. We need to reflect on and consider how our views might be received and understood."
While most organisations will require staff to sign a contract that includes a code of conduct they are expected to adhere to, few contracts cover the issue of political views. "The rules about how we behave at work and how to deal with inappropriate behaviour are relatively straightforward," Steven said. "What is not so easy is when it comes to those bigger, ethical and globally sensitive political issues and how they are expressed."
But that hasn't stopped Mary. She's calling on Australian universities to declare a #ClimateEmergency.
