Dyke tells staff to control tempers

BBC staff have been told to be more polite to each other and to keep control of their tempers.

Director-general Greg Dyke has told Simon Waldman, a producer for BBC News 24, to clamp down on staff intimidation and investigate cases of anti-social behaviour.

Mr. Waldman told Ariel, the BBC in-house magazine: "We want television new to be a nicer place to work; for people to be treated with dignity. It is often those behind the scenes who are at the sharp end of any shouting."

The executive plans to draw up a code of behaviour to help promote civility.

Staff who repeatedly break it will be sent on anger management courses. Other action will include extra training for staff and familiarisation visits to meet the people who are being shouted at. As a last resort, repeat offenders will be referred to human resources.

Mr. Waldman said: "It is easier to yell at a faceless, nameless person at the other end of a phone that at somebody you know."