Harassment

Do you feel someone is harassing you in your working environment? You have the right and the duty to protect yourself.

Actions you can take include:

• React quickly and set boundaries.
  Clarify the situation as quickly as possible. Make it clear to the person that you find certain actions or statements unacceptable and ask them to stop this behaviour.
• Keep a written record of events.
  Note down exactly what happened and when, under what circumstances, and who may have witnessed it.
• Seek help.
  If the situation doesn¡¯t improve, inform your supervisor about the incident (as long as the situation allows) and contact your responsible HR Partner in HR Consulting.
  You can also get in touch with one of the ETH contact and advice services for confidential advice on what additional steps can be taken. They can provide more information on the possible legal action you can take. All incidents reported will be treated as strictly confidential and you can be sure that making a report will not have negative consequences for you.

The university ¨C including all managers and tutors ¨C has a duty to ensure a safe working and learning environment, based on trust and mutual respect.

Actions you can take include:

• Be a role model.
  Treat all staff and students the same and respect their individual boundaries. Foster a climate of trust in your place of work or learning so that staff and students know that you support them.
• Make it clear that you do not tolerate harassment.
  Highlight the importance of creating a safe working environment in team or department meetings, and encourage a culture of good communication and conflict resolution in your team or in your teaching sessions. Speak up whenever you come across inappropriate behaviour.
• Do no look the other way!
  Take any signs of harassment seriously. Try to stop the inappropriate behaviour as soon as possible and get in touch immediately with the relevant contact and advice services. Do not get involved in questioning!

At ETH Zurich, we look out for one another. All our members must take active measures if they witness any case of sexual harassment.

• Voice your concerns.
  Be in solidarity with people affected by harassment. If you see someone overstepping boundaries, ask that person to stop their unwelcome behaviour.
• Offer support.
  Try to discuss the matter explicitly with the harassed person. Encourage the person affected to approach the ETH advice and conciliation service respect. You can also contact them yourself to ask for advice. All discussions with our specialist teams are treated in strict confidence.
• Inform your manager.
  Report what you have seen to your supervisor. Do not take any further measures without the agreement of the person being harassed.

Are you unsure whether someone else has found your behaviour offensive? You may still be able to rectify the situation:

• Reflect on your behaviour.
  How would you feel if someone close to you (such as a sister or a friend) were treated in the same way? How would your friend react if they knew about your behaviour? Consider talking about the incident with someone you trust.
• Talk to the person in question.
  Often there are misunderstandings that can be cleared up by discussing them. It¡¯s a good idea to hold such a discussion in a public place such as a cafeteria.
• Seek support.
  The Advice and Conciliation Service Respect offers confidential advice and can provide extra support if needed.

Any advice is always provided confidentially and protects your anonymity vis-¨¤-vis the conflict parties involved. After raising a complaint we may progress the case as you wish. Further steps are only taken with your consent.

You can get in touch with the contact and advice services even if you are facing an allegation yourself.

Who is alleged to have behaved inappropriately? The procedure for submitting a report depends on the alleged offender¡¯s relationship with ETH Zurich.

• Staff
  If the alleged offender is an ETH employee, the Reporting Office will deal with your complaint directly.
• Students
  If a student is alleged to have misbehaved in the sense of external pageArt. 3 of the Disciplinary Ordinance of ETH Zurichcall_made, please contact the internal Advice and Conciliation Service Respect.

Any incident involving inappropriate behaviour must be reported in good time, and as a rule within three months.

Initial consultation

After the report is received, the competent body checks whether it is complete and submitted on time, as well as which parties are involved. The Reporting Office will then arrange an initial consultation with you, as the affected party.

Breaking confidentiality

If you choose to submit a formal complaint, you lose your anonymity vis-¨¤-vis the other party involved. The Reporting Office will then ask them to attend a hearing as well. The anonymity of any third parties not involved in the dispute is protected.

Impartiality and fairness

The competent body initiates and coordinates the appropriate clarification procedure in each case. In doing so, it works according to the principles of impartiality, the rule of law and fairness. All communication in the formal phase must also follow the principles of mutually respectful interaction and fair play.

The formal phase can be concluded with disciplinary measures or formal action being taken under employment regulations, or other measures (e.g. agreement on objectives), which are announced by the responsible body.