The marketing department in the Otago Business School made headlines in April after a 2023 staff survey became public, reporting low morale as well as bullying and racism.
Further documents obtained by the Otago Daily Times yesterday dating from April to last week suggest some issues have not gone away, and the department has employed external consultant Kate Keddell to address them.
Yesterday, the university said it was "incredibly disappointing" someone had "chosen to leak" the information to the ODT.
Anonymous comments included in a report on a staff meeting held in June revealed a host of concerns about the staff environment.
"This is a culture of bullying/abuse of power and people feeling undervalued, vulnerable and disempowered," said a commenter.
"There are teams and alliances, enemies are punished — we’re adults, we shouldn’t be having to choose sides like this is some kind of war," one staffer reported.
Another argued "open discussion without top-down control" needed to happen.
"We are spied on — our movements are monitored and reported."
There was a "climate of fear — people not feeling safe to speak up".
One staff member pointed to the department’s disorganisation.
"The department doesn’t currently have a functioning senior leadership team supporting the head of department [HOD].
"It’s clear that the new group needs to be established, with proper processes followed from the outset."
Positive aspects about the department raised at the meeting included the way it was preparing students for workforce and industry connections, the pastoral care for students, the passionate and excellent teachers, teaching co-ordination and course advising and the range of research expertise.
The moderator of the meeting felt the department’s problems were not insurmountable.
"In my opinion, ongoing tensions and divisions within the department are undermining a cohesive and respectful workplace culture.
"In particular, a pattern of resistance towards the current HOD by a small (but vocal) group has created a challenging dynamic that affects morale and collaboration.
"A safe workplace is one where the staff feel respected, supported and able to contribute without fear of judgement, exclusion or retaliation."
The Kate Keddell report said there was an opportunity for a reset of the department "so that a positive, inclusive and respectful culture" was established and embedded.
It referred to the staff meeting as a means of outlining the future direction of the department — it was expected more meetings would take place in the coming year.
"No person I interviewed discussed any incident of behaviour at length or in strong enough terms to indicate that they were significant enough to warrant a finding that the university’s ethical behaviour policy has been breached.
"It was widely considered that the current department values remain appropriate; however, how people communicate and support each other in their respective roles needs to be given attention."
The report also recommended the heads of department gave clear advice to staff about how to access mental health assistance.
Otago University acting head of human resources Carolyn King said it engaged an independent facilitator to work with staff in the department of marketing as "part of a broader initiative to support a departmental reset".
"This decision followed concerns raised by staff after the ODT published information from a leaked internal staff survey from 2023.
"Given the context of the facilitation in building a positive, inclusive, trusted and respectful workplace culture, it is incredibly disappointing that someone has chosen to leak this information to the ODT."
The cost of the consultancy was "commercially sensitive" but reflected "standard rates for independent facilitation" of that nature.
"It focused on collaboratively establishing shared expectations around behaviour, communication and professional practice — aligned with the university’s strategic values of academic excellence, equity and wellbeing. No formal restructuring is planned," she said.
Prof Fiona Edgar took over as head of department after Prof Kirsten Robertson stood down in August.
