September 27, 2007

Leeds Metropolitan University awarded 'Divestors of People' standard

Leeds Metropolitan University is awarded 'Divestors of People' standard. For more info check the Hall of Shame.

This university meets at least 50% of the criteria, including: Staff are demorilised, the working environment is toxic, high levels of work-related stress, high levels of bullying and harassment by some managers, and high levels of over-management or under-management.

9 comments:

catface1962 said...

Apparently there's been some local BBC coverage on the bullying epidemic at Leeds Met.

Here's a link to a programme on the subject:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/looknorthyorkslincs/latest_stories/

There's also been news that the HSE is stepping in to take a look at the nastiness that's been going on there.

Kudos to those at Leeds Met who've had the courage to speak out and to the BBC who has finaly stepped in to report the truth.

Anonymous said...

Yes... there needs to be media coverage of wpb... and questions asked in the media about UCU's role in supporting members... I emailed the whistleblower programme but I didn't even get an acknowledgement....too hot to handle maybe....

Why for example have the media not picked up the story in June in the Times Higher about the Director of the Institute of Education..... alleged sex discrimination of a senior employee

....not interested or...warned off.....???

Aphra Behn

Anonymous said...

The rot at LMU is at its core and began with the (new) VC, Vicious Coward more fitting than Vice Chancellor. Thank god I don't work there anymore they made me so ill. It's about time that the truth was out, the underhand threats and methods used to get staff out are truly Machiavellian, he must consume gallons of Horlick’s!

Anonymous said...

About time someone said this. The man has form from his previous uni, Liverpool Hope. Basically, if you stand up to him or criticise him, he puts you on a list..and finds a way of removing you. Managers know this, and hence the culture of bullying grows.

Anonymous said...

I found the atmosphere at LMU unbearable, I left because it was starting to become like Hitler's Germany, a totalitrian state and no mistake, one instance of the demoralizing effect was the "green initiative" of charging staff members to park, I live 37 miles away and I used to do long hours, it would have made a 19 hour day for me....was I offered parking?...yes....at £200 per year, My wage was manipulated so I lost £1500 a year too...plus my colleagues and I were flooded with new employees, who had no training or experience of the job whatsoever, Promotion vacancies were advertised to selected people only and I for one wasn't even told that they were available, all in all the place is rotten to the core and this is all due to Simon Lee manipulating the management stucture and policies.....I do beleive this man is the perfect candidate for the label "Truly Psychopathic in the classic sense" Playing games with people's lives and feeling no remorse for the damage he's done, toadying to those who are useful to him and ignoring those who are not, and utterly destroying those who are in his way or an irritant, he, do not forget is a lawyer by trade........enough said. Please if you see an advertisement for employment at Leedsmet DONT! for your sanity and wellbeing STAY AWAY!

Anonymous said...

They forgot to investigate as well the underlaying bullying and lack of support from the actual teachers and staff towards students at leeds met!!I have know around 50 cases of students who actually ended up withdrawing or change colleges do to in sufficiant attendance from the tutors as well as bad teaching practice.They have revamped the institute but forgot to add better staff!!!!Its pretty out rageous

Anonymous said...

Yes, student centred, world class, it's such a shame because there are great staff who do care or did?! How can you give the extra mile when you're treated so badly? Let's hope the latest news reports actually produce a positive outcome for all those left and most importantly the students, without whom the place wouldn't exist! I sincerely hope all who have left/being pushed/wrongly dismissed have healed, as I said earlier I'm so glad I'm not there but have many dear friends who still are and hope that the Governors have the guts for a vote of 'no confidence', or what's this we hear 'he was planning on retiring anyway! Repetitive strain due to presenting too many trophies on TV!!! Let's hope he hasn't bankrupted the place, but good old HEFCE will step in and cover it up!

Anonymous said...

here here.
i heard on the grapevine that he is staying for another 2 years.
I have mentally left the place and dread going in every day. have had my first sick days in five years. even the young and enthusiastic ones are looking jaded. everything in my school has to be approved by someone who is not even the head. the head does not have the courage to stand up to this bully who is clever and manipulative. i even avoid the floor that her office is on and i am supposedly senior to her.
i have had nine job interviews this year to no avail. all the feedback has said that i have the skills and knowledge but was lacking in confidence.
thanks simon lee. thanks leeds met. i used to have a career. now if it wasnt for the family and mortgage i would jack it in tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Now I'm free of that place it just seems like a horrible dream, but I know those of you who are still there and putting up with it have seen light at the end of the tunnel..staying another 2 years is he?..another 2 weeks would be better,frankly his way of doing things is a direct reflection of the Blair years....Treats his dissenting staff like pariahs and steamrollers anyone in his way and then has the cheek to pen a tome on "Ethics" frankly except for Mr.Blair i've never seen it's like before...I can't see him "falling on his sword" though....the man doesn't have enough honour to do that! I may have been a lowly "Campus warden" (For that read Security Assistant)but I saw a lot more of the effects than some and how some toadied to him even from our department and still ended up getting the "order of the boot"....it's been 3 months now since i've been "freed" and even though i'm earning a lower wage...i'm happier!