Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy's own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I'm a researcher in a university, employed for a fixed term on an externally funded project.
A few months in, my manager and leader of the research project asked me to ignore ethics and data protection procedures, but I stood my ground. He then began to harass and bully me, including lying in an attempt to get me fired.
He was suspended, put through the disciplinary procedure and found guilty of gross misconduct, eventually getting a final written warning; a new line management arrangement was then put into place.
However, the funders wanted my ex-boss to return to the project and weren't told about the disciplinary hearing. Shortly after he returned, the bullying resumed, with my new line manager attempting to rein it in. My former boss has resorted to publicly blaming me for any problems and rubbishing my work, and he refuses to acknowledge my intellectual contributions.
I can't work under these conditions, but can't see a way out. My post is funded by the project, and the project doesn't exist unless my ex-boss is leading it. It seems that despite my being the wronged party, I'm going to have to leave. Any ideas?
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy's and readers' help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or reply personally.
