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We are offering a self-funded PhD position in Human Resource Management and Organisation Behaviour with Brunel Business School.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions about the project or would like to arrange an informal discussion, please reach out to Dr Rachel Morgan at rachel.morgan2@brunel.ac.uk.

The project

Are you passionate about understanding the complex dynamics and challenges within workplace environments, especially as they impact vulnerable and minoritised groups?

We invite you to join us in groundbreaking research that seeks to reshape how workplaces approach gender-based violence through an intersectional lens.

The "Safe and Inclusive Workplaces" project is committed to generating insights into the impact of gender-based violence in professional settings, particularly on minoritised groups who experience such violence disproportionately.

In a time of increased emphasis on social justice, inclusion, and diversity, grasping these dynamics is a milestone for establishing safer and more equitable workplaces.

Our project seeks to develop an innovative framework that will illustrate how various forms of violence impact workers from diverse backgrounds. We aim to examine the challenges they encounter and explore significant ways to provide support.

We welcome proposals that explore the specific needs of minoritised groups facing gender-based violence in the workplace.

This will allow us to understand how intersectional identities — including gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation — influence the risks of workplace violence and the effectiveness of existing support mechanisms.

Related research areas may include analysing how workplace policies can be adapted to meet the needs of diverse groups or how different forms of violence manifest, from customer/client interactions, peer relationships, personal relationships, and criminal intent affecting inclusion and safety.

This project also considers the impact of workplace structures and cultural norms, particularly for those who have historically been marginalised.

Other areas worth exploring include the role of organisational accountability, the impact of workplace culture on reporting practices, and the ways different industries handle gender-based violence.

You could examine how these factors influence career development and wellbeing among affected workers.

Finally, we are interested in frameworks that encourage organisations to adopt intersectional approaches in their policies and practices, supporting a safe and inclusive work environment for all.

Here are some helpful research questions:

• How do different intersectional identities impact the experiences of gender-based violence in the workplace?

• How can workplace policies be adapted to better support minoritised groups facing workplace violence?

• What role does workplace culture play in enabling or deterring gender-based violence?

• How can organisations be held accountable for ensuring inclusive and safe environments?

• What frameworks can guide workplaces in effectively addressing and preventing gender-based violence for diverse groups?

Methodologies

We encourage proposals that employ innovative qualitative research methodologies.

• Consider using ethnography studies to observe how employees’ experiences and perceptions evolve within specific workplace contexts.
• Multi-stage interviews with employees, managers, and diversity officers can provide a comprehensive view of the current challenges and opportunities in creating safer work environments.
• Reflective journals also offer participants a way to document their experiences, yielding rich qualitative data to track progress and inform potential packing solutions.

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: /research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.