Speculative labour & pitch power · Working

Speculative labour

Also called: spec work, unpaid pitch work

ELI5

Work created before payment or firm engagement in the hope of winning an opportunity.

Used in conversation

“The budget needs to show speculative labour clearly before approval.”

Pitch context

You may hear this during a commercial brief, treatment, bid, award or pre-production process.

Why it matters: Helps you understand how projects are presented, submitted, discussed and followed up.

Sources & evidence · 9

Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.