Research Projects

Below we have listed some of the projects our staff are currently involved with.

Vulnerable Selves, Disciplining Others: New approaches to bullying and conflict at work

Involves: Dr Andreas Liefooghe

The Human Rights and Equality Commission recently started conceptualizing bullying as discrimination and as a breach of human rights. As they emphasise the human right to live without threats or mistreatment, our response as scholars has been prolific yet uni-dimensional, each based in their own echelon and discipline without the necessary cross fertilisation of ideas, far less theory.

Find out more on the VSDO web site

Understanding age at work

Involves: Dr Katrina Pritchard

Dr Katrina Pritchard recently received funding (from the Richard Benjamin Trust, Grant 1103, October 2011) to investigate our understanding of age at work. Working with Rebecca Whiting (a PhD student in the department), and using innovative “e-research” methods, a pilot study has recently been concluded.  This pilot involved gathering data from a variety of web-based media (including websites, blogs and tweets)  with a view to analysing the ‘voices’ and ‘conversations’ currently taking place with respect to age at work.

You can follow Katrina and Rebecca’s progress via their research blog: http://ageatwork.wordpress.com/

The future of work and well-being

Involves:  Philip Dewe

Aim:  Funded as part of the Foresight Programme in the Office of Science and Innovation, the aim is to explore the future of work and well-being.

The Private equity debate: an analysis of risks for corporate social responsibility and increasing social inequality

Involves:  Julie Dickinson

Aim:  With Elena Lopez-Gunn (LSE), we are interested in the debate about the morality of Private Equity companies conducted in the media, Government, and key institutional and academic publications