The University of Birmingham believes that harassment is never okay. We believe that harassment pollutes the working and learning environment and has a detrimental effect upon wellbeing, health, confidence, morale, and performance of those directly affected by such behaviour.
The University is committed to creating a working and learning environment free from harassment in which all staff, students and visitors to the University are treated with dignity and respect.
Harassment is any unwanted behaviour or series of behaviours which has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. Examples of unwanted behaviours that might constitute harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- malicious comments or threats
- sending/making offensive texts/phone calls
- Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact
- insults, name-calling and offensive language and gestures
- ridiculing and undermining behaviour
There are three types of harassment which are unlawful under the Equality act 2010;
- Harassment related to a protected characteristic
- Sexual harassment
- If you are treated less favourably because of your response to sexual, sex, or transgender based harassment then this is also classed as a form of harassment.
If you've been subjected to harassment, then you can find out what support and further reporting options are available dependant upon if you are a member of staff or student at the University.