Having been a programmer in tech companies in the UK for a long time I agree about the low status, but I've only rarely encountered bad behavior by managers (mistakes and bad decisions, yes. Bullying not so much). My experience is that in this sort of job the pay is at least liveable and the working conditions are typically good. This is however entirely anecdotal and it's quite possible that I just got lucky and am an outlier. I think there are many other kinds of jobs where bullying is much more common and may even be a core feature of the profession (I'm thinking of Work Programme providers).
Bullying is rife in the UK tech industry. If you put up a wall people will respect it and keep away but if you don't, it's open season. There's also a nasty class divide between permanent and contract staff. I'm the latter and much resentment is felt even though the former could be the latter with a little effort and reap the benefits.
As a 35-year old Brit who has spent his entire career in the UK tech industry, I do not recognise what you describe.
However, there are many "tech industries" and so I can't tell you if the culture in the Java, C++/C#, Windows or Banking etc. industries is like that, because in the Internet, Startup, Ruby/Python type industries it absolutely 100% is not.
Animosity between permanent and contract staff is something I've never witnessed either. Contractors who aren't worth their money? Sure they're going to get a hard time, but if I'm working with a contractor who has 20 years experience on me, sure, I'm expecting them to earn good money. I always saw them as an inspiration, nothing else. I know my colleagues have too.
So, whatever sector you're in, and whatever employer you're with, get out and look elsewhere: it's not like that in many, many, many other parts of the industry.
I'm in finance sector (mainly insurance) for reference on the J2EE/C# side of things.
I think a number of people have been burned by bad contractors in the city. There are tonnes of them from experience who cruise around with absolutely no reputation.
I'm a contractor in the city but not in finance. If I had to guess I'd say you get bad contractors there because the money on offer is huge, so it will attract people who have no idea what they're doing but are great at blagging.
Having been a contractor for several years now, I have to admit I've never seen any sort of bullying. I've never been treated like anything less than a bona fide member of the team. To be honest, I've never seen any sort of bullying. Maybe I just don't know it when I see it ...
(currently on my fifth placement, in London, at a mix of small and international companies)
People with aspergers tend to have poorly developed normal social skills thus having less friends who can support them , thus making them easier targets.
