In SDU’s personnel policy guidelines (2015), it is stated that “SDU wishes a tone for working that is based on decency and is characterised by a compassionate approach that shows respect for diversity and the integrity of each employee. SDU also wishes to promote a working culture that emphasises equality and respect between SDU’s employees in all contexts, both at individual and group level. Management, employees, the health and safety organisation and the liaison committee must actively contribute to supporting a working environment that opposes offensive behaviour and remedies the problem if it occurs" (point 2.19.1).
Workplace bullying occurs when a person is subjected to unpleasant and/or degrading behaviour, actions or statements on a regular basis and over a long period of time, and has difficulty defending themself against the bully.
SDU does not tolerate bullying, including sexual harassment, and no employee should tolerate such behaviour, neither in relation to themselves nor to colleagues. This is true whether the bullying is intentional or unintentional. SDU considers the best defence against any form of bullying to be a compassionate approach that shows respect for diversity and the integrity of each employee.
It is very much the individual employee’s boundaries in relation to sexuality that determine whether a given behaviour constitutes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment therefore occurs when an employee is pressured into sexually charged situations that overstep their boundaries.
SDU wishes to promote a work culture that emphasises equality and respect between the sexes. Management, employees and liaison committees should actively support a working environment that discourages sexual harassment and address the problem if it arises.
It is important that an employee who feels that their personal boundaries have been overstepped makes this clear or approaches their immediate manager, union representative or occupational health and safety representative.
Guidelines and tools for preventing and deterring offensive behaviour
- Guide to preventing and dealing with unwanted sexual attention (only in Danish). The guide is aimed at the work of the health and safety group and should be seen as an aid for the group to work holistically and systematically in the prevention of unwanted sexual attention at SDU.
- Managing and preventing offensive behaviour (only in Danish). The guide aims to help health and safety groups to work preventively with offensive behaviour and to help health and safety groups where offensive behaviour is reported in the unit’s APV (workplace assessment).
- Dialogue cards about bullying
- Dialogue cards about unwanted sexual attention
Information and contact
For more information, readthe Danish Working Environment Authority’s guidance on offensive behaviour (only in Danish).
If you have any questions, please contact arbejdsmiljoe@sdu.dk