Scope
This code of conduct applies to all staff and guests of the Lorentz Center.
Introduction
If workshop participants and staff of the Center are to lead healthy, motivated and productive working lives, they must feel safe in their working and workshop environment. At the Lorentz Center we do our utmost to create a positive working environment. Ultimately, this helps us to achieve our aim, which is to foster innovative research through collaboration.
Good working environment
The Lorentz Center considers a good working environment to be of vital importance for both academics and support staff. The Center wants to provide a relaxed, positive and inspiring environment in which people can work with others or alone and in which they feel welcome, can be themselves and feel able to voice their opinions to others.
To this end, the Center has drawn up a Code of Conduct for people who work in or visit the Center. It also applies to informal and formal meetings that take place outside the Center but within the scope of the Center’s work or a workshop. It is the joint responsibility of staff, workshop organizers and workshop participants to work together in a respectful manner.
Conduct
Despite the Center’s active efforts to create a safe and welcoming work environment, people may still find themselves subject to unacceptable behavior. Unacceptable behavior has a negative effect on the recipient as well as on the team and atmosphere during a workshop. The Lorentz Center has therefore adopted the following rule of conduct: In the Center we treat each other with respect. This means respecting other people’s personal boundaries. This also includes asking for explicit consent before taking recognizable pictures of participants and placing them on social media.
The Lorentz Center considers the following types of behavior as unacceptable:
- sexual harassment: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
- aggression and violence: bullying, mentally or physically harassing, threatening or attacking others
- discrimination: any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person's race, sex, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reporting unacceptable behavior (workshop participant or organizer)
If as a workshop participant or organizer you are subject to some form of unacceptable behavior, there are various ways to try to resolve the matter.
First you could try to resolve the issue with the person who exhibited the behavior. People are often unaware that their behavior is unacceptable. Confronting the person and explaining the effect their behavior has on you is often sufficient to make it stop.
In certain situations this might be difficult to do, so you can also ask for support. You can also discuss the unacceptable behavior with the workshop organizer. This person can take action that should stop the unacceptable behavior.
Alternatively, you can have a confidential meeting with our local contact person (see below) if you have been subject to unacceptable behavior and feel unable to take the actions above or if you need personal support or advice. She does not handle the allegation or complaint herself but will provide support and guidance. She acts in your interests alone and will treat your report with the utmost confidentiality.
If you are taking part in a workshop or have organized one, an appointment will be scheduled as soon as possible.
In the first meeting the contact person can:
- analyze the unacceptable behavior with you
- evaluate whether the matter can be resolved informally
- advise on submitting a formal complaint
- support you in the phases above
- refer you to professional support, if required
Contact person
Anna Tudos (Institute manager)
tel.: +31 71 527 5405 or +31 71 527 5400
E-mail: tudos@lorentzcenter.nl or via Lorentz Center staff
Independent support, provides support during the procedure or will refer to the right member of staff and monitor that the issue is resolved. Treats information with the utmost confidentiality.
Complaints procedure (for students and staff of Leiden University)
If the subject of the complaint is a member of staff or a student from the Lorentz Center or Leiden University, the Leiden University Complaints Procedure for Undesirable Behavior applies. If contact with the confidential counselor or staff of the Lorentz Center has not provided a satisfactory result, you can submit a formal complaint to the independent internal complaints committee. The complaints committee will follow the complaints procedure, which includes 'audi alteram partem', and reach a decision on the complaint. The parties involved will then be informed.
Confidential counselor of Leiden University
Portia van Dorp
tel.: +31 71 513 2493
E-mail: pvandorp@winstonpartners.nl
Independent support, information and advice. Provides support during the procedure, but does not mediate. If required, will refer to experts in the field of unacceptable behavior. Treats information with the utmost confidentiality.
