I work at one of the largest social and market research call centers in Australia where I’m also a delegate with the United Workers Union (UWU). Working conditions and pay in the sector are some of the worst in the country and the precarity of the industry often means that many of my colleagues are forced to live hand-to-mouth.

In an all-staff email, management encouraged workers to “channel your inner mind” to overcome the stress caused by the job. For most call center employees this self-care approach to bad working conditions is patronizing and offensive. In response to the email one of my colleagues texted me:

It’s all well and good for management to send us warm and fuzzy emails about how to cope. But what we really need are more shifts spread out across all staff. I’ve had to get a charity voucher for food this week, something I thought I wouldn’t have to do again.