Dealing with victimisation
Victimisation is defined as actions that are directed against one or more employees in an offensive manner and that can result in ill health or in those employees being excluded from the workplace community. The Swedish Work Environment Authority’s provisions on Organisational and Social Work Environment (AFS 2015:4) contain regulations on the obligations of employers in the event of victimisation.
Victimisation is not accepted at Uppsala University. Our Guidelines on Measures against Victimisation describe the employer’s preventive measures to avoid conditions in the work environment leading to victimisation and the employer’s actions if an employee perceives that they are being subjected to victimisation. If you are a member of staff, you can also read more in the guidelines about who to contact, what happens with the information you provide and what support is available if you perceive that you are being subjected to victimisation.
When the employer learns that an employee perceives that they are being subjected to victimisation, the situation needs to be investigated. The obligation to investigate is regulated in the provisions of the Work Environment Authority on Systematic Work Environment Management (AFS 2001:1). The principal purpose of the investigation is to prevent ill health and not to settle issues of guilt and compensation. If necessary, an external investigation will be conducted, which is ordered in consultation with a human resources specialist. The employer has primary responsibility for the work environment and for systematic work to prevent health risks in the work environment. All members of staff need to participate in this work by calling attention to risks and contributing to solutions.
If you are a manager or supervisor, you have a special responsibility to learn about how to prevent and deal with victimisation. Going through Uppsala University’s Guidelines on Measures against Victimisation will give you a knowledge of what you are expected to do in situations where you become aware that it is possible that a member of staff is being subjected to victimisation. You are always welcome to contact the University’s HR services for support in the process. By reading about the regulations on organisational and social work environment and taking the University’s online nanocourse, you can obtain further knowledge about both preventive and remedial measures. As a manager at Uppsala University, you also have access to a wide range of support and development measures via our managerial development staff. If you need more in-depth knowledge, you can order education and training via the occupational health service.
Read more about organisational and social work environment and the University’s online nanocourse.
Read more about managers support..
See the Univeristy´s map over the process (only avaliable in Swedish)
Read more about Uppsala University’s Guidelines on Measures against Victimisation (only avaliable in Swedish)
The Guidelines will be revised in 2022.