Individual tolerance of poor quality conditions In this section we present tolerance of, rather than voicing dissatisfaction with, poor quality conditions in the form of low pay, long hours and sex discrimination. Clergy and actors accepted or accommodated their low pay in the context of occupational ideology. The underlying purpose of the clerical stipend is to be for clergy to discharge merely ‘adequate their duties without undue 2013: 1; see similar financial anxiety’ (Central Stipends Authority, understandings in the Methodist Church, Connexional Allowance Committee, 2014). The majority of clergy shared this view, although financial anxiety was certainly a reality for many, with four interviewees indicating they had needed to apply for Church hardship funds. While the provision of tied housing was seen as compensation for lower pay, there was little choice and housing was often unsuitable and expensive to run, bringing difficulties in terms of the real value of pay, particularly in the case of this single mother: being in ‘I remember floods of tears when I got my first heating bill, it was like the went on entire month’s salary (CofE A1). For all clergy interviewed, the stipend was regarded as one heating bill.’ facilitating rather than rewarding the long hours worked. All accepted the connection of their pay with the ideology of God, as this quote captures: ‘to pay you to be God’s person in a While recognising that the pay could be difficult to live on, particular place’ (CofE, M). another interviewee related this directly to acceptance of disadvantage: guess I feel part of ‘I (Methodist, F). Despite my calling is actually about living simply that others may simply live’ the inadequacy of remuneration, ideology reframes disadvantage: remuneration is simply enough (CofE, J). Silence is a keep you up and running so free to minister’ ‘to you’re consequence of conditions not perceived as legitimate to challenge because of the ideological constructs brought to the job. The parallel analysis for actors has been conceptualised as where pay can ‘psychic income’, be substituted partially or completely for perceptions of self-fulfilment in artistic practice
Individual tolerance of poor quality conditions In this section we present tolerance of, rather than voicing dissatisfaction with, poor quality conditions in the form of low pay, long hours and sex discrimination. Clergy and actors accepted or accommodated their low pay in the context of occupational ideology. The underlying purpose of the clerical stipend is to be merely ‘adequate for clergy to discharge their duties without undue financial anxiety’ (Central Stipends Authority, 2013: 1; see similar understandings in the Methodist Church, Connexional Allowance Committee, 2014). The majority of clergy shared this view, although financial anxiety was certainly a reality for many, with four interviewees indicating they had needed to apply for Church hardship funds. While the provision of tied housing was seen as compensation for lower pay, there was little choice and housing was often unsuitable and expensive to run, bringing difficulties in terms of the real value of pay, particularly in the case of this single mother: ‘I remember being in floods of tears when I got my first heating bill, it was like the entire month’s salary went on one heating bill.’ (CofE A1). For all clergy interviewed, the stipend was regarded as facilitating rather than rewarding the long hours worked. All accepted the connection of their pay with the ideology of God, as this quote captures: ‘to pay you to be God’s person in a particular place’ (CofE, M). While recognising that the pay could be difficult to live on, another interviewee related this directly to acceptance of disadvantage: ‘I guess I feel part of my calling is actually about living simply that others may simply live’ (Methodist, F). Despite the inadequacy of remuneration, ideology reframes disadvantage: remuneration is simply enough ‘to keep you up and running so you’re free to minister’ (CofE, J). Silence is a consequence of conditions not perceived as legitimate to challenge because of the ideological constructs brought to the job. The parallel analysis for actors has been conceptualised as ‘psychic income’, where pay can be substituted partially or completely for perceptions of self-fulfilment in artistic practice
How%20do%20we%20understand%20worker%20silence%20Final%20edit.docx