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Conflicts and misconduct

If you are confronted with conflicts and misconduct, there are various contact points and consultation opportunities available to you as an early career researcher at Goethe University. In some cases, several of these options my be considered. Depending on the type of conflict/misconduct, the circumstances and your personal situation, you can contact, amongst others:

  • the staff council as an independent representative body of employee interests
  • Ombudspersons as advisory and arbitration experts for specific issues
  • the legal department concerning sanctions for misconduct under employment or criminal law
  • psychological counseling centers to support you in dealing with the conflict individually
  • the anti-discrimination office, if discrimination is involved.

Persons with management, supervisor and instructor roles, such as professors and deans, have the responsibility to actively work towards ensuring that conflicts are dealt with and resolved objectively (see GU Policy on Conflicts (in German)). Provided they are not themselves involved in the conflict, they might also be good contacts.

Additional options may also be available in doctoral programs and DFG research training groups, which have sometimes appointed their own ombudspersons or liaison lecturers.

Contact Options: