Ombudspersons
The University of Mannheim has appointed ombudspersons to mediate in cases of conflict between early-stage researchers and their supervisors or mentors.
Confidential and independent
Ombudspersons act as confidential contacts for researchers as well as for their supervisors and mentors. They are independent and provide advice and mediate in cases of conflict. Theys will only make recommendations for conflict resolution, the implementation of which is left to the parties concerned.
If you need advice, you can contact one of the ombudspersons directly. Before contacting them, please refer to the Statutes of the University of Mannheim (section 4) for information on the exact procedure.
In any case, your request will be treated confidentially and information will not be passed on to third parties. Seeking contact with an ombudsperson does not mean that a mediation process will be initiated. Ombudspersons are also only available for consultation.
Staff Council
The Staff Council of the University of Mannheim represents the interests of all staff members at the university. The members of the Staff Council can be contacted for all basic issues related to labor law as well as in the event of conflicts with superiors or colleagues. They provide information on collective bargaining agreements and statutory regulations and provide mediation services in cases of conflict. The Staff Council is also happy to help with specific questions regarding the collective agreement (vacation entitlements, termination regulations, pay grades and/
Consultations with the Staff Council are absolutely confidential.
Counseling
At times, we all need someone to turn to for advice, e.g., in case of difficult situations among colleagues or in the event of conflicts with our supervisors or mentors. Even if you simply have the feeling that you cannot stand up to all the demands you have to cope with, we will always have a sympathetic ear for you. We advise you independently and with complete confidentiality.
The counseling service of the Department of Equal Opportunity and Social Diversity provides advice on the following topics, among others:
- Sexual harassment
- Anti-discrimination
- Observance of the Code of Conduct of the University of Mannheim
- Reconciling family and work
