The Open University reviews

There are NO career progression opportunities anymore. Annual "staff satisfaction" survey results get worse year on year. A very arrogant, draconian management culture that imposes bad decision making and refuses to listen to staff who actually do the job and could recommend an enhanced way of working. Lots of downgrading of jobs, increased workload and 6 day work-shift patterns which is resulting in a massive turnover of staff. The OU is in the process of closing 8 Regional Centres across England making approx 1000 knowledgeable staff redundant. At this rate the OU will go out of business over the coming years.

Unfortunately my university unit is not in a good place. People are anxious and fearful and mostly just keeping their heads down in survival mode. This is due to a senior manager with an appalling leadership style. People are belittled and humiliated on a daily basis. The first question you learn to ask when you get in is 'what mood is he in today'. People are shouted at and threatened with losing their jobs on a regular basis. If you have an idea then you had better make sure it is one which will be approved of before voicing it. The people who were prepared to try and change things have all left - mostly not of their own accord.