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Support & reporting incidents

In this section

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.

HOW CAN I REPORT HARASSMENT/OTHER BAD BEHAVIOURS?  

Anyone witnessing or being subjected to harassment can contact the Department’s harassment advisors (there are also posters around the Department).

Speaking to harassment advisors does not make complaints formal by default, their aim is to provide advice and guidance and to empower individuals about making a decision on a complaint.    

If you would like to contact an harassment advisor outside of the Department or with specific experience of certain issues there is a list here   

For staff, the other option is to raise concerns through your line manager, if appropriate, HR or the Head of Administration and Finance.  

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.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I WITNESS BULLYING,HARASSMENT or RACIAL DISCRIMINATION?   

These behaviours are unacceptable and bystanders have a right to challenge them responsibly. 

The Equality and Diversity Unit at the university advises using the ‘Direct, Distract, Delegate and Delay’ interventions for responsible bystanders. 

Where bystanders do not feel confident or safe challenging unwanted behaviours, the Department’s harassment advisors are available to listen and provide guidance in how to address the negative effects of such incidents.

For confidentiality reasons, the harassment advisors do not contact the individuals who were directly subjected to those behaviours.   

HOW WILL I KNOW THAT MY REPORT IS CONFIDENTIAL?   

Reports to HR and harassment advisors are confidential and would not be shared without consent. Where harassment advisors seek guidance from other advisors on a particular issue (where they may have more knowledge or experience), they do not include personally identifiable information and do so only if individuals give consent.    

 

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS   

 

Further learning

  • Attend the training course Challenging Behaviour: Dealing with bullying and harassment in the workplace
  • Watch 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.
  • Watch this video about bullying and harassment in academia from Professor Lucy Bowes in the Department of Experimental Psychology.
  • 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.