Occupations such as nurses, teachers, therapists, and sign language interpreters have something in common: the work they do requires they connect, human to human, and truly see the other, recognizing their humanity. Another commonality is that this work, called “connective labor” by social researcher Allison Pugh, is often unrecognized, under valued, and lost through automation of these professions. This workshop will outline the hallmarks of connective labor, how sign language interpreters engage in it on a daily basis, and how this work is threatened through the shift to remote work and the mechanization of communication access. 

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Through this exploration of the work we do to connect with our consumers and colleagues, participants will recognize the value of connective labor in their own practices, and generate strategies to keep the human connection integral to their work. 

 

Educational Objectives

• Participants will be able to define “connective labor”

• Participants will be able to state at least one example of how connective labor overlaps with Role Space theory

• Participants will be able to state at least three threats to connective labor in the interpreting field 

• Participants will be able to state at least one approach they will commit to using on the job to strengthen the connective labor they do