Conflicts with superiors, colleagues, staff members

When issues or problems with your superiors, colleagues or staff members arise, we have a range of services available to help you resolve these conflicts:

Contact persons in accordance with the official agreement on fair and respectful behaviour

  • Official agreement on fair and respectful behaviour in the workplace
  • Responsible authorities:
    • the immediate superior
    • Staff representative
    • Director of Human Resources
    • Head of department
    • Dean
    • Kanzler
    • Rector
    • Director of the departmental administration
    • Head of faculty administration
    • Equal Opportunity Representative (for academic staff)
    • Equal Opportunity Representative (for non-academic staff)
    • Representation for employees with disabilities

Ombudsperson for research

Professor Bernhard Schink
Room: M 905
Office hours: by appointment
Phone: +49 7531 88 -2140

  • Our ombudsperson for research
    • provides advice, mediation services and support to all researchers and scientists working at the University of Konstanz,
    • advises (anonymously, if required) on questions of good scientific practice, potential violations as well as related conflicts,
    • supports individuals who have reported a potential case of academic misconduct (whistleblowers) and may therefore be subject to sanctions by other institutions,
    • is your point of contact, if you are being suspected of academic misconduct.

Director of Human Resources

Renate Pfeifer
Room: V 836
Office hours: by appointment
Phone: +49 7531 88 -2366

  • Human Resources offers advice on the following topics
    • Resolving conflicts
    • Transferring to another location, changing your workplace
    • Facilitating mediations within working groups
    • Facilitating personal coaching sessions
    • Re-integration programme after absence due to illness
    • Resolving work issues related to illness
  • Qualification:
    • Lawyer
    • Transaction analysis expert

Staff council

Email
Room: G 402
Office hours: usually from 9:00 - 15:30 or by appointment
Phone: +49 7531 88 -3556, -3939, -5274

  • Responsibilities:
    • Ensures that all members of the unit are treated equally
    • Contact person for problems that individuals may experience in relation to the unit, their superiors or whilst working alongside their colleagues
  • Legal framework:
    • Landespersonalvertretungsgesetz - LPVG (state staff representation act)

Caritasverband Konstanz e.V.

Jochen Trautner
Uhlandstrasse 15
78464 Konstanz, Germany
Phone: +49 7531 1200 -250

  • Services (see also: Caritas advisory services flyer):
    • At the University of Konstanz, we collaborate with the Caritasverband Konstanz charity to offer free psycho-social counselling. As your employer, the University of Konstanz will not be notified if and when you seek advice or which issues you raise
    • You are welcome to discuss your individual situation as well as possible ways forward in up to five sessions
  • Qualification:
    • Social worker