At University of Staffordshire we strive to ensure that all our students and staff are able to study or work in an environment free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation.
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy 2013 states that the University will not tolerate bullying or harassment of any kind and will investigate any complaint from any student or member of staff who alleges this kind of behaviour.
All staff and students should:
- Behave in a way that promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone
- Treat everyone with dignity and respect at all times
- Challenge and report any unacceptable behaviour
No Bystanders
The University will not tolerate any bullying, harassment or abuse on campus. See the one minute video and pledge your support - No Bystanders.
What is harassment?
Bullying can take various forms from name calling, sarcasm, teasing and unwarranted criticism, cyber bullying, to threats of violence or actual physical violence. It often involves the abuse or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient.
Harassment can be defined as unwanted conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment which interferes with an individual's learning, working or social environment, or induces stress, anxiety, fear or sickness on the part of the harassed person.
It is unlawful to harass someone because of their race, gender, gender reassignment, disability, age, sexual orientation or religion/belief. It is also a criminal offence to harass (or stalk) someone persistently.
Differences of attitudes, background or culture and the misinterpretation of social signals can mean that what is perceived as harassment by one person may not seem so to another; nevertheless, this does not make it acceptable.
Other examples of harassment include unwarranted physical or sexual contact, jokes, offensive language, posters, emails, texts, comments on social media, graffiti, public telling off or putting down, excluding or ignoring.
Harassment and bullying may be an individual against an individual (perhaps by someone in a position of authority) or involve groups of people. It may be obvious or it may be insidious. Whatever form it takes, it is unwarranted and unwelcome to the individual.
(Source: A-Z of Equality and Diversity. ECU, 2008, Acas 2009, The Equality Act 2010)
What should I do if I think I may be being harassed or bullied?
Hate Crime
A hate crime is a criminal act committed against a person, group (or the property of a person or group) where the motivation is believed to be hatred of, or prejudice against, that person or group because of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race/ethnicity, religion/belief, sex or sexuality. This can include physical attacks, the threat of attack and/or verbal abuse or insults. (Source: A-Z of Equality and Diversity. ECU, 2008)