You should be able to look forward to going to work
As most people know, in the workplace assessment (WPA) there were (far too many) who indicated that they had experienced offensive behaviour at work. Of course, it is totally unacceptable that some of our colleagues cannot go to work without feeling violated. It ought to be common sense that you speak and behave nicely towards one another. Offensive behaviour is harsh for the individual and as a result this may generate bad work environment in general.
A working group consisting of Mogens Nicolaisen, Thomas Birger Jensen, Jesper Overgård Lehmann, Karina Rysholt Christensen, and Sonja Graugaard has been set up to discuss, how we can minimize and completely avoid offensive behaviour in the future and how a working environment, where everyone respects and treats each other properly, can be created. We have already tried to dig a little deeper into the WPA, and we have found that there is no specific group of employees, where the problem is particularly predominant ; in other words, it is a tendency we see throughout the institute, where the tone of voice may have become a little more rough around the edges.
Offensive behaviour can be both unconscious or deliberate on the part of the offender, but different measures are required in the two situations. We imagine that the 'unconscious' violation can be reduced with an increased understanding of how to talk to one another on a daily basis, taking into account that there can be quite large cultural differences where allusions to for example religion, sexuality, and politics are perceived in completely different ways. We need to create a culture where it feels natural to speak up if you are experiencing something that you do not think is okay.
For the 'deliberate' offensive behaviour, which fortunately occurs rarely, it is important that there is a clear set of rules and at the same time a clear set of consequences for the offender. It is simply a behaviour we will not tolerate in AGRO. It is important that the offended, or witnesses to the offensive behaviour, does not keep it to him- or herself, but brings the matter on to the right people. It may be good to talk to a close confidant, but it is also important that the problem is brought to the attention of the right people, so that it can be taken care of in the right manner. That is why the group is working on creating guidelines so that everyone in AGRO knows, who they can safely turn to if they have felt violated or witnessed violating incidents.
In the working group and with the help of HR, we are drafting a presentation that we expect will be completed during September.
On behalf of the working group,
Mogens Nicolaisen