Harassment, sexual harassment and victimization

Information about the employee survey on harassment, sexual harassment and victimization that will be conducted during the autumn of 2023. The information is aimed at managers.

Background and purpose

The survey on harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation is the third part of Stockholm University's employee survey 2021–2023 and a part of the university's systematic work on work environment and equal opportunities.

At Stockholm University, we work actively and preventively with all types of abusive acts. Specific rules regarding harassment and sexual harassment can be found in the Discrimination Act (SFS 2008:567), and the regulations on victimization are found in the work environment legislation, more specifically in the Swedish Work Environment Authority's proposition on organizational and social work environment (AFS 2015:4).

The purpose of the survey is for Stockholm University, as an employer, to obtain information about whether employees have experienced harassment, sexual harassment or victimization and received support in connection with it.

The results of the survey will provide heads of departments/administrative offices with a foundation for actively working to promote a good social and organizational work environment, free from harassment, sexual harassment and victimization.

Read more about Stockholm University's handling of harassment, sexual harassment and victimization.

Preparations

Organization files

The HR Office e-mails heads of departments/administrative offices a preliminary list of all employees at the department/administrative office who, according to current criteria, should be offered to participate in the survey. You need to review and complete the list according to the instructions included in the e-mail.

Completed list must be sent back to the HR Office, medarbetarundersokning@su.se, no later than September 18.

Information for managers

In September, the HR Office will send to all heads of departments/administrative offices a link to a recorded digital seminar that contains information about the structure and content of the autumn employee survey; what you need to do and what support the HR Office offers.

About the survey

The survey will be available in both Swedish and English. Employees will answer completely anonymously.

The subjects of the survey:

Harassment

Harassment is defined as conduct that violates someone's dignity and that is related to any of the grounds of discrimination of gender, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age.

Harassment can be when one person exposes another to, for example, statements about their appearance or behavior. It can also be about texts, images or gestures that are associated with one of the grounds of discrimination and that are perceived as offensive and unwanted. For example, someone might speak in a critical, ridiculing or generalizing way about 'feminine', 'homosexual' or 'Asian' characteristics.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is defined as conduct of a sexual nature that violates someone's dignity. It can be unwanted touches, jokes, suggestions, glances, pictures or jargon that are sexually suggestive and that are perceived as offensive.

Victimization

Victimization is defined as actions directed against one or more employees in an offensive manner and which can lead to ill health or exclusion from the workplace community. It can, for example, involve deliberate insults, degrading treatment, not being greeted, exclusion, withholding information, being excluded from meetings, being unfairly accused or being personally exposed.

It is not considered victimization if there are temporary disagreements, conflicts or cooperation difficulties that are not deliberately aimed at harming or offending anyone. For example, it is not a question of victimization if employees have not had requests for, for example, working hours, skills development or salary increases granted, when there are factual grounds. It is also not considered to be a victimization in a limited number of occasions of inappropriate behavior, for example temporary clumsiness, squareness or passivity.

When?

The survey is conducted during the period from 23 October to 12 November via a survey tool in collaboration with the supplier Quicksearch.

During the morning of 23 October, 2023, all participants will receive an e-mail with a link to the survey. Reminders will be sent to employees who have not responded. The survey closes on 12 November at 23:59.

Participants

The survey will be answered by all employees and scholarship-funded PhD students/researchers who are working on 1 August 2023 and still working on 12 November 2023.

Employees on full-time leave and full-time sick leave do not participate. Employees on full-time parental leave can be offered to participate in the survey and can decide for themselves if they want to participate in the survey or not.

Important with a high response rate

In order for the results of the survey to be used to develop and improve the work of promoting a good social and organizational work environment, it is important that as many employees as possible respond to the survey. Therefore, it is important that you as managers are committed and encourage your employees to participate in the survey. During the period when the survey is open, the HR Office will keep heads of departments/administrative offices updated on the current response rate.

Results

Stockholm University's results will be presented to the president, deans, the university director and the chief safety representatives in early December 2023.

The results for departments and administrative offices will be available to all heads of departments/administrative offices the provider's web-based results portal from 1 December. In the results portal, it is easy to download finished reports; both in Swedish and English.

The result will be at level of department/administrative office. In order to guarantee anonymity, at least eight responses are needed to get a result.

Feedbacks on results

You will receive advice and support from the HR Office. During December 2023, all heads of departments and heads of administrative offices will be contacted by an HR advisor or HR specialist to book a review of results for the management of the department/administrative office. After this review, HR Office will present the results for the employees, on the date booked by the department/administrative office.

Measures

The HR Office will prepare a proposal for measures which, after dialogue with the management of the department/administrative office, will be adapted to the needs and conditions of the department/administrative office.

Schedule

Schedule

When?

What?

17 August

Heads of departments/administrative office receive a preliminary list of participants in their department/administrative office. Please review and complete the list according to the instructions included with the e-mail.

18 September

The last day to submit the file with correct and supplemented list of participants in the survey to medarbetarundersokning@su.se.

September

A link to a recorded digital seminar with information about the autumn employee survey is sent to all heads of departments/administrative offices.

W. 41

The head of department/administrative office sends an information e-mail to employees about the employee survey.

23 October

The survey starts. During the morning, all participants receive an e-mail in with a link to the survey.

12 November 23:59

The survey is closed.

v. 46–47

The results are processed by the provider Quicksearch.

1 December

Logins to the results portal are sent to all heads of departments/administrative offices. In the portal you can see the results for your department/administrative office.

W. 49 (2023)
until March 2024

Review of results with management at department/administrative office, results feedback to employees and further work with the results.

Questions and answers about the survey

Questions and answers regarding the survey are collected on the website Questions and answers.

Contact

If you have any questions about the employee survey, you are welcome to contact the HR Office at medarbetarundersokning@su.se.

Last updated: 2024-09-30

Source: Human Resources Office