Dignity at Work and Study Policy

Magdalene College is committed to protecting the dignity of students as members of its community in their work, their study and indeed all their interactions with each other. It fosters a culture which values positive, supportive and open interactions, and which promotes good working relationships.

The College recognises that to work and study effectively people need a climate in which they are respected and valued for their contribution to work and study, irrespective of their sex, (including gender reassignment), marital, parental or partnership status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability, sexuality, religion or belief, or age.

The College recognises its duty of care to students in this respect. Inappropriate behaviour can result in stress and stress-related illness. All members of the College share this duty, and especially those who have some responsibility for other members. The College expects all members of its community to treat each other with respect, courtesy and consideration at all times: all members of this community have the right to expect such behaviour from others, and a corresponding responsibility to behave in this way towards others.

There is a need, nevertheless, for procedures to deal with particular inappropriate behaviour, including bullying, harassment, victimisation, or discrimination, whether in teaching, learning, or social interactions, which may have a damaging effect on the well-being of individuals within the College. Behaviour is defined as inappropriate if it is: unwanted by the recipient; perceived by the recipient as violating his or her dignity, and as creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment and, having regard to all the circumstances, including the recipient’s perception, the behaviour could reasonably be considered as having that effect. The procedures for dealing with such behaviour operate in conjunction with the College’s Complaints Procedures, which may be used if a formal complaint is made, or if the circumstances complained about do not fall clearly within the range described here.

If any student feels uncomfortable as a result of the inappropriate behaviour of a member of the College’s staff, or a Senior member, or another student, the best resolution may well be by means of an open and honest discussion, with support if necessary from any of the following: fellow students, his or her Tutor, the Chaplain, one of the Harassment Officers, or a CUSU Officer.

If difficulties cannot be resolved in this way, this Policy provides two further procedures: informal resolution with the intervention of an appropriate member of the College’s Fellowship, (normally the Senior Tutor), and/or mediation through conciliation by the College’s Harassment Officer; and a formal complaint procedure according to which any complaints made about harassment, bullying or other inappropriate behaviour will be investigated independently, thoroughly and without delay, in accordance with the College’s Complaints Procedure. Beyond this, complaints may be made only to the (national) Office of the Independent Adjudicator.

See Appendix 1 for Informal Advice on how to proceed, and see Appendix 2 for details of the procedure for informal resolution. For details of the College’s Complaints Procedure, see the documents Procedure for dealing with comments, suggestions and complaints from students and for our specific policy on what constitutes harassment see the Policy in cases of harassment. Magdalene College Cambridge Dignity at Work: Policy for Junior Members Page 4 of 8 If a complaint is judged under the College’s internal formal complaints procedure to be vexatious or malicious, disciplinary action will be taken against the complainant; however, disciplinary action will not be taken if a complaint made in good faith is judged to be unfounded.

If a complaint is judged under the procedure to be well-founded, action will be taken as necessary to solve the problem and prevent a recurrence. Its primary aim will not be to punish the person complained against; however, in cases involving wilful misconduct, appropriate disciplinary action may be taken. In certain cases where a criminal offence may have been committed the police may become involved.