The company and its chief executive, Carol Bartz, are grappling with issues including flat revenue, executive departures and news that private-equity firms have been exploring deal possibilities that include merging Yahoo with AOL Inc.
"The people I talk to inside the company say they're running flat out, " says a former top PDVSA executive who, like many in Caracas, is fearful of being identified.
But the National Bullying Helpline's chief executive, Christine Pratt, contacted the BBC to say a flat denial sent out the wrong message and she would expect Downing Street to follow "due process" and look into complaints.