bullying in academia- should i write confidential letter to the director of the instition even though i left a year ago?

[heraldgerald]

really struggling with this please help. i was severely bullied during my professional doctorate, which I left last year. i complained at the time but nothing happened. i would hate for this to happen to someone else, and feel like I cant just let it lie, morally. however i am frightened to make a complaint that is identifiable in case the bullying reaches me again, which it I worry it could as the perpetrators were particularly vengeful and frightening. should i send a letter? Or let it go? Thanks for any thoughts.

Anyone... I'm quite desperate for advice and would prefer not to 're post in aibu for traffic . Sorry that sounds awful hope you know what I mean!

Are you still at the institution?

So you have already complained at dept level? At our uni the procedure would be to make a complaint through student support services/ graduate office, at which point HR should be informed.

What form did your original complaint take, and to whom did you make it? Are different avenues available to you now?

Gosh thanks so much. I left a year ago. I originally complained to the course leader. I never heard anything further about it. I think the course allows systemic bullying of students, those especially at risk are new parents. Sorry if I sound bonkers but it happened to others too. I wanted to write to the director to tell him but say I didn't want to go any further and to keep it confidential. Because I'm still scared :(

Does the institution have a published complaints procedure one that you can find on the web? I know of one such institution, and the complaints procedure covers complaints from staff, students, members of the pubic etc. However, I do suspect it would get back to the specific department involved.

What action do you think the perpetrators could take against you?

It does but I Want to remain anonymous. It's a small profession and they are influential.

The only way you can expect to be taken seriously is if you follow the official complaints procedure. Otherwise you are going to have to let it drop.

I would talk to HR initially - they will outline the who, what, where, when and how of the process and address any concerns you may have before you initiate or report anything.

I am going thru a bullying and harassment grievance process as we speak - it has a very overt non retribution, non retaliation policy to protect the complainant.

I have already resigned as it was so bad - so whatever gets fixed following an investigation will have no positive impact or redress for me.

HR really encouraged me to proceed with the grievance. I suspect that the respondent has form. I have needed to find the strength to take the bully to task to protect others. It is also very cathartic for me.

I complained to my line manager that I was being bullied and harassed, as you have done, and our policy states that a line manager is then obligated to escalate and initiate the B&H process. She didn't - so will also be in trouble - bit like the child abuse stuff - looking away covers up for the bully and perpetuates the behviour.

I complained about B and H via my staff rep ie a grievance and it was awful He fobbed me off stating it would take too long but in actual fact the boss was happy to hear it I found out later I should have just gone straight to any boss as they must by law deal with any harrassment.They cannot refuse.
However once you have resigned you only have 3 months to get to an ET

But you dont want to go to an ET - so you should go back to HR and/or your sympathetic past boss so that they should hear your grievance on principle....in that case you staff rep broke the law and I am sure the institution will want to redress