What if I experience bullying or harassment?

Is this something I can deal with myself? 

If it feels safe to do so, you may wish to consider dealing with harassment yourself. There are resources and guides available on how to hold difficult conversations available on University learning on demand website.

• Look at resources on how to have a Difficult Conversation using InRehearsal.
• Look at the RDM Respectful Behaviours Framework which gives examples of effective and ineffective behaviours.
• Check the University's Anti-Bullying and Harassment pages which give details more details about the processes and some helpful flow charts.

Do I need to speak to someone?

Consider talking to one of the following:

• A Harassment Advisor. To find out more about how a harassment advisor can help, see the University webpage and the list of RDM harassment advisors on this page.  
• Your line manager
• Your mentor or someone else who might be able to advise e.g. HR (for a staff member) or Employee Assistance Programme Spectrum.Life, Director of Graduate Studies/Graduate Studies Manager (student)

Do I want to take things forward informally?

Contacting a harassment advisor is part of the informal process and they can listen, and if you want they can signpost you to additional support and services.

Contact the MSD Mediation service.

Do I want to make a formal complaint?

If the actions / processes above do not succeed in resolving the situation, or would not be appropriate given the nature of the complaint, you can proceed to a formal complaint.

You can email the Head of Department hod@rdm.ox.ac.uk, copying in the Head of HR.

Clearly and succinctly, put in:

• the nature of the behaviour that you are concerned about.
• the effect of this behaviour on you.
• the resolution that you are seeking.

If you wish to contact someone other than the Head of Department, please look on the University's harassment pages.

Do I want to make an anonymous report?

Use the University's Report + Support system. 

Staff employed by the University of Oxford are able to use this tool to report an incident or seek support. You can tell us about an incident anonymously or ask to speak to an Advisor.