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Sources of Support

What is bullying and harassment?

A person subjects another to harassment by engaging in unwanted and unwarranted conduct which has the purpose or effect of:

  • violating another person’s dignity, or
  • creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for another person.

Bullying is a form of harassment and may be characterised as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient.

Please find a useful YouTube video on this subject Link

What can you do? 

Complaints of harassment and bullying can be dealt with formally or informally.  Information on how to make complaints can be found in the University’s policy and procedure on harassment and bullying. Information can also be found in the Harassment Procedure Flowchart for Staff and the Harassment Procedure Flowchart for Students.  

Sources of Support

The department has a number of  Harrassment Officers. You may, however, prefer to speak to a harassment advisor outside the department, including if you would like to speak to a Harassment Advisor who is BME or LGBT, or you would like to speak to someone about sexual violence or domestic/relationship abuse.  You can arrange this by emailing harassment.line@admin.ox.ac.uk or telephone 01865 270760.

For students, OUSU’s Student Advice Service also provides a confidential and impartial listening and advice service. Alternatively the University has a professionally staffed confidential Student Counselling Service for assistance with personal, emotional, social and academic problems.

There is also a full list of internal and external sources of advice.

Resources

Click here to see the University's Equality, Transgender and Harassment policies.

Refresh knowledge with: Challenging Behaviour: Dealing with bullying and harassment in the workplace

An online training course designed to give you a better understanding of:

  • The legal and moral responsibilities of all staff
  • The knowledge and skills necessary to work successfully as part of a diverse team
  • Why certain behaviours are inappropriate
  • The damage caused by bullying and harassment
  • How to respond to inappropriate behaviour
  • The tools to recognise and put a stop to bullying and harassment

Little things matter: The impact of micro-behaviours and micro-inequities

Four short videos that explore micro-behaviours and micro-inequities and the important part they play in our working relationships, and in addressing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The videos illustrate the impact of unconscious bias on organisational dynamics and individual performance, with realistic workplace scenarios and expert analysis. They will help you to:

  • Understand the impact of unconscious bias on day-to-day workplace interactions and the effect these may have on others;
  • Self-regulate your behaviour to avoid negative impacts and foster positive interactions.

LinkedIn Learning: Assertiveness and Difficult Conversations

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning resource offering a range of online learning materials on personal and professional development topics.  Resources of particular relevance to harassment are Assertiveness and Difficult Conversations.