News

Clarity and transparency in harassment cases

Published: 11 September 2024

The vice-chancellor has approved new procedures relating to suspected cases of harassment, sexual harassment, reprisals and victimisation involving staff and students. These procedures are effective as of 1 September 2024.

The aim is to increase clarity and transparency while ensuring more legal certainty and cohesive investigations throughout SLU.

How to report

The new procedures have resulted in a shared reporting process for staff and students. You can now report harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation using an online form in the IA system (work environment information). You can access the system from the staff or student web by clicking on the ‘Emergency or incident’ warning triangle to the right of the start page.

An investigation team has also been established with staff from both the Division of Human Resources and the Division of Educational Affairs who will work with the report. The team conducts a pre-assessment of the reports submitted. If a potential case of harassment or victimisation is identified, the team will contact the relevant manager for authorisation to conduct an investigation. The investigation team will assess and investigate the case with support from SLU’s legal counsel. The same procedures will be used to investigate cases involving students as for cases involving staff.

Study counsellors and directors of studies who become aware of harassment are not able to invoke professional secrecy, as they need to ensure that suspected harassment is investigated.

Managers and heads of department have the overall responsibility

As previously, managers and heads of department have the overall responsibility for the work and study environment. They must also ensure that an investigation takes place if a person feels they have been harassed. It is also their duty to implement measures to end any identified cases of harassment.

Facts:

These new procedures cover two acts:

  • harassment and sexual harassment as per the Discrimination Act;
  • victimisation as per the Work Environment Act.