Issues, Inquiries and Exit Interviews - Medical College of Wisconsin Ombuds Office
What issues can be discussed with the Ombuds Office?
The Ombuds Office is a safe place to discuss any workplace situation "off the record" with someone knowledgeable about MCW and its policies so that individuals can decide whether to take action and, if so, what to do.
Visitors are welcome to contact the Ombuds Office as a first step or anywhere along the way in the process of addressing their concern.
There are many reasons to come to the Ombuds Office, here is a partial list:
Issues
- Academic integrity
- Advisor-advisee or supervisor-supervisee relations
- Authorship
- Compensation and benefits
- Conflicts of interest
- Disciplinary action
- Educational integrity
- Ethics / Whistle-blowing
- Favoritism
- Fear of coming forward or of acting to stop unacceptable behavior
- Fear of retaliation or actual retaliation
- Harassment, discrimination, abuse of power, bullying, unfair treatment
- Help in writing a reference, evaluation, commendation, a letter of concern, or help in writing responses
- Intellectual property disputes
- Interpersonal relationships
- Performance appraisals
- Personality conflicts
- Plagiarism
- Policy issues
- Professional misconduct
- Research-related issues
- Animal care and use
- Authorship (order and inclusion)
- Attribution of credit
- Disposition of research products (what is mine; what can I take with me if I leave
- Human research protection
- Misrepresentation of data
- Safety issues
- Scientific misconduct
- Suggestions for improving MCW
- Working conditions
- Not sure where to go or what to do
Inquiries
- Information about management decisions, policies or rights and responsibilities of all parties
- Exploring alternatives for resolving a workplace problem
- Learning the process for filing a formal complaint or appeal
- Requesting a “reality check”
- Trying to resolve a workplace conflict in an informal way
- Get coaching on how to resolve a workplace conflict
- Learning what other resources may be available
- Using a confidential channel to surface information
- Not sure where to go or what to do
Exit Interviews
- The Ombuds Office is available for confidential exit interviews with MCW faculty, staff and postdoctoral fellows