New support team for managers regarding discrimination and harassment

If you are a manager/head of department and need support in dealing with situations that have arisen relating to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation at your unit/department, you can contact STAR (Stödteam för trygg arbets- och studiemiljö (Support team for safe working and study environment)).

The purpose of the team is to provide support to managers and HR in the event of a situation involving harassment, sexual harassment or victimisation. Another purpose is to ensure that Umeå University has a professional and equal handling of these types of matter's.

The team consists of HR strategists from the Human Resources Office, but will, if necessary, also enlist the help of a university lawyer and/or security coordinator.

- It is with great pleasure that we now have a support team responsible for preventing discrimination and harassment as well as supporting the manager in events where discrimination and harassment occur, says Human Resources director Lars Nordlander.

What the team can help you with

The team can:

• Give advice and guidance to managers or HR who has become aware that an employee or student feels exposed to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or victimisation.
• Investigate harassment or sexual harassment.
• Provide advice and support when investigating victimisation.
• Provide advice and support on work environment measures during an ongoing investigation and when an investigation is completed.

You will find more information about the new support team in the HR guide:

Support team safe work and study environment (Swedish only)

Why a support team?

The support team is part of the package of measures that the university has implemented during 2022-2023. This is based on Karin Röding's report, Umeå University's management of mismanagement - 32 forward-looking proposals for change, which was presented in April 2022. Some other proposals for measures that have been implemented are:

• New procedures for the Staff Disciplinnary Committee (PAN)
• Developing a digital training course on systematic work environment work for managers (to be launched during this spring)
• An investigation into the university's organisation for work environment and equal opportuinities (presented on 2 February)

The report can be read in its entirety on the university's website.

Read more about Karin Röding's report

Contact

Lars Nordlander
lars.nordlander@umu.se

Jeanette Lövqvist
jeanette.lovqvist@umu.se