26 employees: Toxic working environment at Natural History Museum

Harassment, bullying, extreme work pressure and a manager who doesn’t »give a damn.«

This is the working environment that 26 anonymous former and current employees describe at the Natural History Museum of Denmark in an article in the media Frihedsbrevet (behind paywall). The Natural History Museum of Denmark is a unit of the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).

The numerous anonymous employees point to museum director Peter C. Kjærgaard and his management style as the cause of a whole series of problems with the working environment.

The sources outline various problematic episodes and courses of events. They include an all-staff meeting back in 2019, where several employees stood up and spoke of too much work pressure, and where two employees started to cry.

There is no doubt that the working environment has been, and continues to be, under pressure. And we need to do even more to improve the working environment at the museum.

Katrine Krogh Andersen, Dean, Faculty of Science

»I thought then, if nothing happens now, then he [Peter C. Kjærgaard, ed.] really doesn’t give a damn about how we feel. He can’t ignore this,« an anonymous source said to Frihedsbrevet. The source said management subsequently did »absolutely nothing.«

In addition to the statements from the 26 anonymous sources, Frihedsbrevet has been given access to two workplace assessments from 2019 and 2022. According to both workplace assessments, more than one quarter of employees do not believe that management takes responsibility for well-being and the psychological working environment.

»We have targeted efforts to improve the working environment, but we are not there yet, and there are still clear challenges that we need to solve. But I do not recognize the situation as described in the article,« Peter C. Kjærgaard writes to Frihedsbrevet.

Dean knew

The University Post has spoken to Katrine Krogh Andersen, who is dean at the Faculty of Science and who has the overall responsibility for the working environment at the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

Have you been aware of the problems with the working environment described in the Frihedsbrevet article?

»I see the workplace assessments from all the departments, and I am in frequent contact with the department heads. I have also been in contact with Peter (C. Kjærgaard, ed.), where we have continuously been in dialogue about the working environment, which has been challenged. So yes, I’ve been aware of that.«

What have you done to improve the working environment?

»I think Peter has already responded to that in the Frihedsbrevet article. The dialogue between Peter and me has been about what can be done at a general level in relation to organisation, workload, and so on. And an action plan has been drawn up for this based on the workplace assessment. It’s normal to do it this way.«

»There is no doubt that the working environment has been, and continues to be, under pressure. And we need to do even more to improve the working environment at the museum.«

Have any employees contacted you directly and pointed out that things have gone completely astray with the working environment at the Natural History Museum of Denmark?

There are many anonymous descriptions, so I have to, first of all, go out there and do some listening myself

Katrine Krogh Andersen, Dean, Faculty of Science

»I respond to all requests.«

Do you recognize the picture of the working environment as described by anonymous sources in the Frihedsbrevet article? That employees have broken down crying, and have tried to bring up the problems without being taken seriously?

»I do not work on a daily basis at the museum. But 1 March I am to meet with the management group and the vice-chairman of the local collaboration committee to get my own impression. This is to hear how they will continue their work from here on, and how they specifically will improve the working environment at the museum.«

What about the museum director?

Why are you only starting to do this after the Frihedsbrevet media has uncovered this story?

»As I said, Peter and I have been in continuous dialogue about the working environment, and he has also previously made me aware that the working environment has been under pressure. And as I’ve already mentioned, we’ve been working on the latest workplace assessment, and have been in dialogue.«

The anonymous sources in the Frihedsbrevet article specifically point to Peter C. Kjærgaard’s management style as being the cause of the poor working environment. Will this have personal consequences for him?

»I can’t say anything about that. I’m going to initially start a dialogue with them tomorrow, and then we’ll take it from there.«

In general: Does the University of Copenhagen approve of the working environment as described in the Frihedsbrevet article?

»No, we need a good working environment at UCPH. Many employees are very proud of their workplace, and those I know are also very dedicated. There are many anonymous descriptions, so I have to, first of all, go out there and do some listening myself But we already know the workplace assessments, and where the challenges are, so of course we’re working on that.«

The University Post has contacted Peter C. Kjærgaard, who does not wish to comment.