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Research and knowledge exchange

Research and Innovation Services Bullying & Harassment and Wellbeing Resources

This page shares resources where staff in Research & Innovation Services can seek support, guidance, and useful information for both bullying and harassment, and health and wellbeing.

These resources are intended to keep RIS, and the broader University, as a safe and supportive environment, and to enable colleagues to easily seek support if things go wrong or they need additional tools to maintain health and wellbeing at work.

Bullying and Harassment

Bullying and harassment is always unacceptable.

They can also be complex phenomena, and it may be difficult to know how and when to seek support. If you experience or witness bullying and/or harassment, you do not have to deal with it in isolation.

Guidance on how to understand bullying and harassment:

How you can seek support to address bullying and harassment at Sussex:

If you experience or witness bullying and harassment, there are several options available.

Which of these options you take up will depend on the specific situation and your own preferences. It may be appropriate to take just one or several of these options, either at the same time or consecutively. Whichever options you take, you should feel safe and supported throughout.

Normally, the most appropriate first step will be to discuss the issue with your line manager.

If you do not feel comfortable discussing the issue with your line manager (or if they are the perpetrator), you could speak with another member of the RIS Management Team. All members of the Management Team are available to discuss an incidence of bullying and harassment irrespective of whether it relates to their own team or not.

Either in addition to or instead of speaking to a RIS manager, you can also contact a Dignity Champion for an initial, confidential and impartial discussion to explore the behaviour and your options (see Dignity Champions, including a list of Dignity Champions). Dignity Champions are available for exactly this purpose.

Either following these steps, or alternatively as a first step if you feel confident, you can speak directly to the individual involved. Sometimes perpetrators do not perceive their behaviour as bullying and harassment even when it is, and can be responsive to a direct conversation. However, you should not take this option if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. You may wish to ensure a third party is present for the conversation, and to make a note of what is said.

You can also report the issue to the HR Business Partner for RIS.

If the behaviour is too serious for an informal approach, or if you use one of the above options and decide that further steps are required, or if you prefer to report the behaviour anonymously, you can use the University’s confidential

University Policies and Guidance on Dignity and Respect:

Everyone involved should address any reported bullying and harassment within the framework of the University’s approach to Dignity and Respect:

Other sites/pages that may be of interest:

Health and Wellbeing

The main Health and Wellbeing web page has links to the following resources:

  • Employee Assistance Programme
    • Health Assured are a specialist highly professional organisation that can provide a range of help at difficult times. There is a 24 hour / 365 days-a-year telephone help line that can provide counselling and specialist advice on a range of matters. You can call the EAP helpline on 0800 316 9337
    • MyHealthAdvantage is an evidence-based smartphone app providing in-depth tools and support for anyone to improve their mental wellbeing
    • - online platform including tools to help you understand and manage your mental health twenty four hours a day, seven days a week
  • Meditation/Mindfulness
  • Courses
    • LinkedIn Learning Course - 
    • LearnUpon courses - "Mental health in the workplace", "Supporting others", "Managing your own self-care and wellbeing", "Mental health: stress less", plus other. (Log in to LearnUpon to access these)

Other sites/pages that may be of interest: