The board of the Otago Museum will not be "sweeping under the carpet" allegations that its management has intimidated staff.
A member of the board, who did not want to be identified, told the Otago Daily Times yesterday that several board members would be asking questions about work practices at the museum when the board next met, on August 18.
The board member believed it might be necessary to bring in an independent organisation to provide the board with an "outside view"of the museum's work practices.
On July 8, the Public Service Association alleged that some staff felt intimidated by senior management at the museum, were struggling with their workloads and were expected to work extra hours for no pay.
Museum director Shimrath Paul described the allegations as "untruths" and board chairwoman Margaret Collins has defended Mr Paul's management practices.
The board member said he knew staff, including Mr Paul, worked long hours but did not know if the museum was being "too tough" on staff.
"Maybe we need to just have a look at what we are expecting of our people."
He would be keen to examine the museum's employment policies and processes to make sure everything "was shipshape".
"Are our current policies up to standard? I'm not saying they're not.
"They may be perfectly fine."
He considered the central question for the board was whether or not it was being a good employer to everyone, from the chief executive "to the youngest person on the staff . . ."
"As a group of governors, I'm sure we will be asking the questions: What is going on? Why are we in this position? Are we doing all the things we should be doing?"Neither the PSA nor the museum would comment yesterday about a meeting held on Friday at which the allegations were discussed.
