Dismissed for disclosing misconduct
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Saturday May 05, 2007 19:57
by MB
An academic has been dismissed from the School of Computing and IT
at the University of Wolverhampton on the grounds of Gross
Misconduct following the use of email and an online blog devoted to
bullying in academia to express criticisms and complaints towards
management and policies within the University.
References to bullying, harassment and discrimination were
publicised via both internal University of Wolverhampton email and
more recently via the http://bulliedacademics.blogspot.com/ website
and accompanying forum (the message can be seen at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bullied_academics/message/111).
The Senior Lecturer in Computing, who has been disabled from work
due to stress and depression for over six months, was unable to
participate at the disciplinary hearing because of his illness and
the decision to dismiss was taken in his absence. He remains unfit
for work after a longstanding dispute and a string of unresolved
grievances regarding relations in the School and working conditions.
The Health and Safety Executive has been called in since October
2006 to investigate the management of workplace stress and return to
work procedures at the University of Wolverhampton.
The "Bullied Academics" blog and forum have become virtual meeting
points for academics from the UK and worldwide to share similar
experiences and constructive discussion about bullying in academia.