Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of

Happiness Podcast.

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

to share that science with you.

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.

This is a Thinking Loud Podcasts from the BBC and for more details and much, much more about thinking aloud, go to our website at BBC.co.uk.

Hello one of my first questions after being appointed as a junior lecturer in

sociology was about the exact nature of my new job.

I mean was there a time limit attached to the post or well a retirement age perhaps?

Reassurance was at hand.

My new colleagues were quick to tell me

that I could do well, more less what I liked and stick around

for well as long as I fancied.

It was, in short short a job for life. I had been granted

tenure. Well that privileged state of affairs was withdrawn by the Education Reform Act of 1988, which allowed

universities to appoint new permanent staff without offering them tenure.

Short-term appointments began to proliferate, and academic life slowly became less secure,

and a job that at once offered both prestige and security now offered less of both. This is hardly the only example of such a

process in today's world. Students now graduating from universities along with

...