Heart charity cracks down on bullying and harassment

The British Heart Foundation has become the latest major research funder to publish new policies on bullying, harassment and research misconduct.

The BHF announced on 18 February that institutions it funds must have a policy in place that clearly sets out the standards of behaviour expected from staff and a procedure for responding to complaints. 

If an institution funded by the BHF upholds a bullying or harassment claim, the findings must then be reported to the charity, which may impose sanctions. Possible sanctions range from a letter of concern or obligatory workplace behaviour training to more extreme measures such as the removal of a researcher from the grant or the withdrawal of funding.