A Phenomenological Approach to Explore Faculty Perceptions about Invisible Labor

ABSTRACT

We examined faculty perceptions of invisible labor at a large, urban, multi-campus community college. Semi-structured interviews with 16 faculty of various ranks, ages, gender, disciplines, and minority statuses were conducted and then later transcribed using NVivo. Open coding and constant comparison revealed 19 concepts, which were further grouped into five categories: academic, administrative, engagement, self-presentation, and adjunct versus full time. Secondary research questions examined the effort needed for invisible labor, what made labor invisible, and if demographic factors played a role in invisible labor. Participants highlighted time and volume of work as factors for invisible labor. Reasons for invisibility included location, lack of understanding, and unacknowledged labor. Faculty status was the only demographic factor identified by the participants as affecting invisible labor.