Mr Paul yesterday said he was "astounded" by the allegations from the Public Service Association (PSA), labelling them "untruths".
He hit back at the union, accusing it of ignoring a 10-year-old agreement that employment concerns be discussed between the union and himself in private, rather than being aired in public.
In a statement, PSA national media secretary Warwick Jones said staff concerns included intimidating behaviour by senior managers, verbal intimidation, being given projects with unrealistic deadlines, struggling with high workloads because staff who left were not replaced, and being expected to work long hours without being paid overtime or offered time in lieu. Staff also felt they were underpaid in relation to their qualifications and experience.
"Intimidation of staff . . . must stop because this is unacceptable in any workplace," Mr Jones said.
He would not expand on his comments when contacted yesterday.
Mr Paul said, to his knowledge, there was "no truth at all" in the allegations.
"I am saying to you, and I say to my staff quite regularly at staff forums, that I have an open-door policy and am happy to discuss any concerns staff might have. Constructive criticism is encouraged and appreciated . . . Staff who make criticisms are never reprimanded."
Some staff worked at nights and weekends, but because they chose to, he said, rejecting any suggestions they felt forced to.
Of the museum's 89 staff, only seven were PSA members, Mr Paul said. Asked who might have complained to the union, he guessed it was a "disgruntled ex-staff member" as no current staff had raised employment issues with him.
He said "a handful" of staff over the past three or four years had been asked to participate in a performance management process because of concerns about their performance. All but one had since left, but no staff member had been fired.
Mr Paul said the museum was not involved in any personal grievance claims by former staff members and he was not aware any were pending.
The deal between the museum and the PSA was drawn up in 1999 after staff concerns about the museum's management culture.
