Dear Marmammologists, The expectation of unpaid work harms the scientific community systematically excluding participation by those unable to work for nothing. Given the troublingly frequent postings of unpaid volunteer and internship positions to this list, I highlight the below article from the *Wildlife Society Bulletin*. It does not consider marine mammal jobs specifically, but is undeniably apposite to the field. Fournier, & Bond, 2015, Volunteer field technicians are bad for wildlife ecology, *Wildlife Society Bulletin,* DOI: 10.1002/wsb.603 Abstract: Many advertised field-technician positions sound worthwhile, but have no or very low pay. Although these can be valuable experiences, not paying technicians for their work undermines their professionalism and the professionalism of science as a whole. These unpaid technician positions are available to only the privileged few; and the positions exclude minorities, parents, and other groups who cannot afford to work unpaid. By creating such positions, we prevent everyone, regardless of background, from having a chance to get the field experience they need, and this limits the diversity of voices in wildlife ecology and conservation. We recognize finances are often tight, and there is a long tradition of unpaid work, but these are not valid rationalizations for continuing this practice. Unpaid technicians and internships are bad for science, and the conservation of our natural world. We cannot afford to not pay our technicians. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsb.603/abstract http://www.researchgate.net/publication/283791283_Volunteer_Field_Technician... Best wishes, Gerry Ryan