For all UMC Utrecht students
It could happen to anyone: an unpleasant remark or an arm around your shoulder that makes you feel uncomfortable. Someone makes an inappropriate joke about someone else; you’re not laughing, but also don’t dare saying anything about it right then and there. Someone confides in you, shares an unpleasant experience or you are challenged about your own behavior.
On this website you will find practical information that may be helpful when faced with undesirable behavior. Whether you are the victim, want to help someone or are accused of something yourself. Is anything missing or unclear? Please let us know. Together we ensure that we continue to learn and continue to do things better together.
Who is this information for?
This information is for all students at UMC Utrecht. That is: studying or in training, in the teaching classroom or in the workplace. Specifically, this includes students of the Faculty of Medicine, the Graduate School of Life Sciences and the UMC Utrecht Academy. Here you will find the information for all students of the Faculty of Medicine in situations of undesirable behavior. Are you a PhD student or doctor in training from a medical continuing education program? Then look under Staff members.
What is undesirable behavior?
Undesirable behavior, or misconduct, is defined as: everything that people experience as unpleasant, undesirable or hurtful in their interactions and communication and which results in someone no longer feeling safe and comfortable at work, training, during internships or in the private situation. Such behavior may be physical, verbal, non-verbal or online. It concerns your perception as the person who experiences undesirable behavior, not the prevailing norm or what someone else thinks.
Undesirable behavior comes in different forms.
- Verbal – A comment, gossiping, ridiculing the other, a nickname that makes you feel uncomfortable, abusive language.
- Through actions – Staring, being ignored or excluded or competitive behavior.
- Physical – Someone touches you inappropriately, puts an arm around your shoulder against your will or reacts aggressively.
- On social media – Someone sends you sexually explicit messages or posts something nasty about you.
Discussing it helps
Undesirable behavior is inappropriate. We will do anything in our power to prevent it and counteract it. But occasionally things go wrong here, too, and we overlook something. In that case you should remember Every report, every uncomfortable feeling counts, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you. The more people discuss it or report it, the greater the chance that we can do something about it. And because it is important to us that there is always someone you can talk to, you can also lodge a complaint anonymously. Discussing it helps. We will handle all reports. But if you lodge an anonymous report, we cannot contact you to help you personally. On this website you will find information and a toolkit with tips on what you can do, how you can do it and who you can contact. Follow the steps in the drop-down menu.
Is something missing or unclear?
Please let us know. In this way we can ensure together that we continue to learn and do things better together.
