Hmm, it is curious that the inscription refers to my singular “contribution.”

A friend called my attention to the odd color of the cupcake icing. She’s right!

When I teach Employment Law at Suffolk University Law School, I use a 1981 California appeals court case, Pugh v. See’s Candies, as a vehicle to discuss the changing nature of career paths in American employment. The plaintiff, Wayne Pugh, began working for the See’s Candies company as a dishwasher. He steadily moved up the ladder at See’s to the point where, 32 years later, he was a company vice-president and a member of its board of directors.

Unfortunately for Pugh, things started unraveling for him at that point, and he was terminated. The judicial decision addresses whether or not Pugh was wrongfully terminated, ultimately finding that his case was wrongfully dismissed by the trial court and that he should’ve had a chance to further plead his legal claims. For my students, the appeals court’s analysis provides a useful example of applying contract law to employment settings.

In addition to highlighting the legal significance of this case, I call my students’ attentions to Wayne Pugh’s 32-year career path, starting as a dishwasher and finishing as a company VP and board member, all working for a single employer.

A half-century ago, the notion that one might spend the bulk of their working days in the employment of one company, government office, or non-profit organization wasn’t all that unusual. But today, frequent job changes are more the norm, sometimes by a worker’s affirmative choice, other times because of the changing nature of hiring and job security. Among other things, “gig” jobs and independent contractor relationships are more common — and also more legally complex.

Another salient point is that today, if one aspires to company leadership positions, few would advise starting as a dishwasher and working up the organizational chart. I could make a strong case for learning one’s work ethic and understanding the experience of work by washing dishes for a living. Nevertheless, the standard-brand advice for opening doors to professional success would be to get a university degree, pile up a bunch of internships, and maybe pursue an MBA.

Academic careers

Academe is one vocational sector where long-term faculty affiliations with a single college or university have long been the norm, often spanning many decades, and enabled by tenure and long-term, renewable contracts. The same can be said for many staff members and mid-level administrators in academic workplaces, even though many work without the long-term job protections provided to many full-time faculty. 

These patterns of employment still exist in academe, though much less so than before. On the faculty side, many tenured and long-term contract positions have been replaced by short-term and part-time teaching appointments. Also, although hiring of administrative personnel has exploded in higher education, we’re seeing a continual pruning of staff — often to be “replaced” by apps and offloading of work onto remaining staff members and faculty.

In addition, the culture of academe has become even more infused with notions of hierarchy, characterized by an obsessive focus on institutional prestige and on published rankings of universities and their respective academic units. Within this milieu, it’s more common to see younger scholars enter academe with the express objective of teaching at the most prestigious institutions that will have them. This can lead to academic careers that involve successive moves to higher ranked institutions.

Also, a good number of academics move between schools due to geographic and family priorities. These individual migrations have likely increased with the growing practice of conducting “national searches” for new faculty.

Three decades at Suffolk Law…wowza!

Last Wednesday, I attended Suffolk University’s Years of Service recognition program. I was among those SU employees who had reached the 30 year mark of service at the university. To be honest, I’m not big on such events. In fact, in the past, I skipped the ceremonies covering my 10th and 20th years of service. But I felt like my 30th year was a milestone worth fussing over a bit. I’m glad that I went.

I mean, 30 years is a loooong time to be working at one place! (Hopefully, my eventual separation of service will be on better terms than Wayne Pugh’s!) My early career path gave no indication that this would be the case. After graduating from NYU Law, I spent three years at the NYC Legal Aid Society, another three years at the NY Attorney General’s Office, and then three more years back at NYU as an entry-level instructor.

My time back at NYU planted the seeds of an academic career, and it led to my securing a tenure-track appointment at Suffolk.

As I shared in a recent personal reflection on living for 30 years in Boston, it was not foreseeable that I would remain at Suffolk for all this time. In fact, at times I assumed the opposite would be true. But as I also noted in that Boston reflection, during my years at Suffolk, I’ve been able to forge a very rewarding academic career. In addition to being a successful classroom teacher, I’ve made significant scholarly, advocacy, and public education contributions in three subject-matter areas — workplace bullying and abuse, therapeutic jurisprudence, and unpaid internships.

In sum, I’ve been able to mature into my true calling during these three decades.

And I’m happy to report that I’ve still got plenty of energy and enthusiasm for my work. While I plan to step away from full-time teaching before the decade is up, I imagine that my work on workplace bullying and on therapeutic jurisprudence will continue for as long as mind and body permit. I’ve got a number of other projects in the planning stages as well!

A contemplation for aspiring difference makers

My three decades at Suffolk have made me quite the outlier in terms of continuous employment at one institution. But herein is a lesson that I’d like to share.

I fully understand that job changes, even pursuits of new careers or vocations, are very common in the realm of work and employment. That said, if you wish to make a positive impact on the world, then I’d like to reiterate the essence of advice I gave some 15 years ago on this blog: Find something you care about and stick with it.

Most of the world’s difference makers have staying power. They are driven by heartfelt commitment and a desire to do something meaningful.

There is no magic “minimum time” for doing so. For some, that focus may be a lifetime mission; for others, it may cover 5, 20, or 40 years. 

Of course, difference making can occur anywhere. It certainly isn’t limited to initiatives or activities that might be labeled “social change” or “public service.” Helping to build a sound business provides useful goods and services, not to mention creates jobs. Applying one’s skills in a craft or trade supports our everyday experience of living. Parenting and caregiving nurture and safeguard individual lives. Caring for animals affirms our humanity. Long-term devotions to civic, charitable, or artistic activities enliven our communities.

In many of these situations and settings, it may be advantageous to attach one’s self to an institution or a community, or perhaps to create an institution or a community, that enables one to make a positive difference.

Of course, I cannot say with full certainty that my decision to remain at one university for the overwhelming share of my working life has been the best choice, for the “what ifs?” are countless and unknowable. However, as a city dweller who is drawn to urban universities that operate at the line between research and ideas on one side, and action and application on the other, the overall fit has enabled me to work on stuff that I care deeply about.

So yes, I can personally attest to the value of longer-term affiliations for those who wish to be change agents within their desired spheres. Furthermore, especially at a time when the world is feeling very tenuous and fractured, these affiliations can keep us tethered to our fellow human beings. Stability and longevity have their virtues in addition to opportunities they may create.