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Faculty Well-Being & Workplace Bullying

To serve the many goals that faculty are called upon to address, it is necessary that they take care of themselves. This web page is a contribution to that effort. Below you will find a variety of resources that we hope may be of use.

FAQ

If I am feeling more pressure than I feel comfortable coping with on my own, who can I talk to?

Faculty Ombudsperson

Dr. Georgette E. Dumont, Faculty Ombudsperson

Political Science and Public Administration; College of Arts and Sciences

904 620-5855

Bldg. 51, Room 2112 or 2416

 

The Faculty Ombudsperson

  • is available to speak with any faculty member who wishes to discuss any experience or set of experiences that the faculty member may perceive as instances of bullying; will assist the faculty member in examining the experience(s) and their contexts; will present the faculty member with the range of options that may be pursued to address/redress perceived offences; will assist the faculty member to pursue the course of action, if any, that the faculty member decides to pursue;

  • is thoroughly knowledgeable about the full slate of campus resources relevant to workplace bullying, and the full range of options available to someone who perceives themselves to be the victim of bullying;

  • maintains inviolate confidentiality regarding all matters relating to the Ombuds program; shares no information with anyone, including the Associate Faculty Ombudsperson (described below), without the expressed consent of the faculty member who contacted the Faculty Ombudsperson;

  • maintains impartiality in all matters; does not advocate for any person -- alleged victim or alleged bully -- or for any particular course of action;

  • is available in person by appointment, by phone, and by email;

  • is appointed jointly by the FA President, the FA Vice President, and the Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee;

  • serves a two year term;

  • is joined by an Associate Faculty Ombudsperson whose two year term is staggered with that of the Faculty Ombudsperson to provide for continuity and who takes over as Faculty Ombudsperson for a subsequent two year term.

Promoting Personal Wellness

The Healthy Osprey Advisory Board can assist faculty with issues regarding nutrition, heart health, diabetes, women's health, etc. Please contact Dr. Valerie Morrison for more information @ ext. 1569 or v.morrison@unf.edu.

Promoting a Positive Working Environment

The Office of Faculty Excellence can assist faculty in finding mentors, joining writing groups, developing collaborative scholarship, and participating in faculty development workshops. Please contact the director of Faculty Excellence, Dr. Juliana Leding for more information @ ext. 2261 or j.leding@unf.edu.

Workplace Bullying 

Definition

Workplace bullying is repeated, unwelcome severe and pervasive behavior that intentionally threatens, intimidates, humiliates or isolates the targeted individual(s), or undermines their reputation or job performance. It may take, but is not limited to, one or more of the following forms:

  • Verbal abuse
  • Malicious criticism or gossip
  • Unwarranted monitoring
  • Unwarranted physical contact
  • Exclusion or isolation in the workplace
  • Work interference or sabotage
  • Cyberbullying
  • Other offensive conduct/behaviors (including nonverbal) which are threatening, humiliating, harassing or intimidating.

Responding to Workplace Bullying 

  • Administrator-on-Faculty Bullying: Those experiencing or witnessing an administrator treating a faculty member inappropriately should contact the union, the United Faculty of Florida and its grievance officer, Dr. Matthew Leon @ ext. 2780 or matthew.r.leon@gmail.com.
  • Faculty-on-Faculty Bullying: Faculty who are concerned that they or someone they know may be the victim of bullying should contact the Faculty Ombudsperson to explore options. Faculty should also contact Human Resources and its Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Julien Carter @ 2918 or julien.carter@unf.edu.

Other Anti-Bullying Efforts

  • Faculty-on-Administrator Bullying: Those experiencing or witnessing a faculty member treating an administrator inappropriately should speak to that faculty member's immediate supervisor (usually a department chair or school director); if this is not case-appropriate, one should speak to that faculty member's college dean.
  • Staff-on-Faculty Bullying: Those experiencing or witnessing a staff member treating a faculty member inappropriately should speak to Human Resources and its Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Julien Carter @ 2918 or julien.carter@unf.edu.
  • Faculty-on-Staff Bullying: Those experiencing or witnessing a faculty member treating a staff member inappropriately should speak to that faculty member's immediate supervisor (usually a department chair or school director); if this is not case-appropriate, one should speak to that faculty member's college dean.
  • Student-on-Faculty Bullying: Those experiencing or witnessing a student treating a faculty member in appropriately should speak to the Dean of Students and its director Rachel Winter @ ext. 3914 or rachel.winter@unf.edu.
  • Faculty-on-Student Bullying: Those experiencing or witnessing a faculty member treating a student inappropriately should speak to that faculty member's immediate supervisor (usually a department chair or school director); if this is not case-appropriate, one should speak to that faculty member's college dean.

Supporting Student Well-being

Resource Links

UNF Ethics Hotline

UNF-UFF Collective Bargaining Agreement