Union calls for ban on ‘mock REFs’ amid fears for UK research jobs

Academics are like Turkeys voting for Christmas when participating in the REF. The REF is enabling managers many of whom cannot do 1 star research to tell academics they are pretty much worthless if you don't do 4* research and you only ever get a pay rise if you do 4* research. Nothing else matters.

On the other hand, as someone trying to get promoted to Professor and who has always had more than enough papers for every REF or RAE, why should more highly paid folk than me not get the boot if they cannot make the low publication bar set by REF?

Another reason to leave the profession...

Maybe you are only doing 3* so they is why you cannot get a chair ! Do four 4* and you get a chair.

It doesn't matter how good you are, fall foul of the management and even if you get an excellent appraisal result they'll 'moderate' it to ensure your on the wrong end of the bell curve. Next comes the 'informal' invitation for a 'chat' (without Trades Union representation) and the offer of a good reference if you go voluntarily, all 'off the record', dig your heels in and you'll be 'managed' out on 'capability' grounds. Even heads of school are vulnerable to this.

Luckily, I do not work somewhere as described by NEILJOHN and I have not seen any cases presented above in my 17 years in my current department (nor actually in my time before that). However, it is frustrating not to be able to progress.