My PhD is linked to a larger project to which I work as a data collector/research assistant. We are a team of 5 (4 work on the larger project part time and I'm doing my PhD). When I started my PhD my supervisor clarified that I would data collect for the larger project and they would help me part time. Recently, I have been working a lot more than is required for my PhD data collection. Is there anything I can do, rather than take it or leave it? I have tried to negotiate extra pay but was not successful. Is this common? I realise with PhDs, because it is study, terms and conditions of the job are not written down.
Many thanks.

Hi,

My phd is also part of a larger program, and I work 50 hours on weekdays plus a daily 2 hours for commuting, which doesn't leave me much time for socialising... On top of that I have work to do on weekends. I constantly Feel tired, I don't sleep much and it's been ages since I cooked a proper dinner or went to the gym.... So the outcome of the division of my stipend to working hours equals illegal. My supervisor is fully aware of that, and he knows he couldn't hire a postdoc. In top of everything uni imposes bureaucracy rules on me, expecting me to fill in forms and give presentations, like I hadn't enough already.

I treat it as " take it or leave it" deal, after all we are cheap labour here, at the bottom of the food chain... I hope that my sup will put some money together, and top up.
It will give me an excuse too in the future to drink other phd students' blood " when I was your age...." I am joking, I only think that it is a really nice project and it is totally worth it :)