Chapter 3: Bullying and Harassment in Academic Life

Universities esteem big research grants, prestigious prizes, flattering press coverage and first-author publications. Successful professors often have unrestricted power over large research groups of fixed-term researchers. The power of seniority and a tenured position, coupled with financial control, can lead to abusive behaviour. Contracts of researchers can be terminated irrespective of productivity, and further employment was made conditional on the direction of research or undermined by unfair reference letters. Over-reliance of career progression on single individuals, coupled with the power imbalance, puts those vulnerable to bullying, harassment and discrimination at serious risk, with women and minorities at a particular disadvantage. Surveys of bullying in universities show that it is rife, but universities seem chronically unable to identify any bullying behaviour at all, let alone discipline any individual bullies. Failure to tackle bullying is one of the major reasons why universities are not fulfilling their role in encouraging greater diversity and inclusion. This chapter presents statistical evidence on the prevalence and effects of bullying in universities, as well as three individual case studies. The detrimental effects of bullying on teaching and research performance are tracked and quantified. Finally, the author discusses a number of ways in which universities can take action to improve matters.