What happens when something is reported?
When a report is made about a student or staff member, there are procedures that will be followed, as a result, the process can be different in each case. The University will work with the accused and the reporter may seek informal or formal resolutions under various policies, which can be found here and here.
Get Support
Employees who have been reported and are concerned about their behaviour or need support should speak to Human Resources or their Trade Union representative.
What do I do now?
It can be very distressing if you have been accused of bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct. It’s important to be aware that the university will not make assumptions and will not consider a person ‘at fault’ until an accusation has been investigated. All those involved in a complaint will be treated fairly and offered advice and support.
It’s good practice to take time to reflect about the other person’s perception of your behaviour. Even if you feel that your behaviour was well-intentioned, your words or actions may have hurt or offended another person, and this may be thought of as an opportunity for learning, or perhaps for a change of approach.
- Listen carefully to the complaint and to the particular concerns expressed.
- Stop the behaviour that’s been complained about straight away; if you are deemed to have bullied or harassed somebody after their objection to your behaviour was made known to you, this will be seen as a more serious issue.
- You are likely to need advice and support to understand the complaint: find a way to discuss the matter with someone you trust, or contact a member of the HR team for support.
- If you feel you are being unjustly accused, seek support from your line manager or a member of the HR team, who can guide you.