[Taxacom] fascinating reading!

[Stephen Thorpe]

some of you may find this article (doi: 10.1023/B:PORJ.0000036869.45076.39)  fascinating reading - it describes some of the tactics used by the likes of Landcare Research to stifle organizational dissent. This bit in particular rang some bells:

The second component of official denial is to deny that any reprisals have been visited on the employee who speaks out. The employee may be reprimanded, referred to psychiatrists, transferred, given little work or too much work, demoted, or dismissed. Normally management justifies such official actions by claiming that the employee is a ‘‘difficult personality,’’ incompetent, inadequately trained, or has made some serious error. It is not unusual for an outspoken employee’s file to be scrutinized and old complaints or allegations pulled out—sometimes from many years earlier—and used to justify actions.