‘I’ve lost my work and been ostracised’: Oxford University accused of failing to act after ruling on ‘sham’ contracts

Despite winning a landmark legal battle, academic Alice Jolly believes it won't benefit others

An academic who won a landmark court battle last year against Oxford University for employing her and her colleague on sham" gig economy contracts has criticised the university for trying to brush their case under the carpet.

Alice Jolly and her colleague Rebecca Abrams, both award-winning authors, taught on Oxford's prestigious creative writing course for 15 years but were employed on zero hours personal services" contracts, often earning only 23 an hour. After they publicly challenged the university on their lack of employment rights, Oxford wrote to the Society of Authors in April 2022, agreeing to offer the two academics more appropriate contracts.