DH works at a university, I was also previously there for a number of years before 2021, so am familiar with the department. Their offices are quite big for postdocs, and during lockdown a new girl (X) started there. X's supervisor has a big research group and that's how she started being stalked by another postdoc Y. I don't know how it all started, but by the end of lockdowns when people started going back to the office it was already such an issue that DH knew about it. X complained to her supervisor who told Y to stop writing handwritten letters, and he just started sending emails.
Then Y's contract expires, he gets a postdoc in another city 3h away, yet travels back once a week for 'lunches with the group'. This goes on for about 2 years, in which time X gets a position in Europe and leaves. Meanwhile, the supervisor knows about all of this, the department admin people get forwarded emails Y now starts sending to my DH (and others) about X. Yet, Y is hired AGAIN by the supervisor just as X leaves for Europe.
I don't know whether X filed a formal complaint to HR about Y... I was in a bit of a similar but less wild situation at the same uni, I filed a complaint and the guy got a telling off from the School and I was also told that when he's looking for a job and wants an HR reference - they will say they have no comment about him, which means there's basically nothing good. So the fact Y got hired AGAIN is just shocking to me. I think X's ordeal with Y is like tenfold what I experienced...
Anyway, is there anything I can do? X comes back for work trips and Y just goes insane, I've seen the emails, it seems it's escalating... last one Y was 'filled with fury' that X didn't show up to a 1-1 meeting they supposedly arranged (although I'm a bit sceptical of the truth here). All emails get forwarded to School admin... Don't know why X hasn't done HR complaint about him, though I now think a restraining order is more appropriate... it might be cultural, like formal methods of complaint might backfire in country of origin. Y is British citizen, X is non-UK/non-EU but works in EU. I've seen emails where Y is basically threatening that 'his associates will give [X] a visit' (??). Idk if X forwards such stuff to admin, but anything DH receives I ask him to forward. They've even got a whatsapp group to document all of it, and X has expressed she's worried Y will come and k*ll her one day, in a non-joke way. Surely that's enough...?
I realise I'm not the one being harassed here but is there anything I can do? Filing HR complaint on X's behalf is possible but on the page it says no action will be taken if I'm anonymous. Uni has a security service, can I make them aware?
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watching stalking/harassment unfold
JollyOpalPoster · 19/03/2024 10:47
allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 19/03/2024 10:55
@JollyOpalPoster does y think x is doing better than him? does y fancy x? what is his actual problem with x. has x rejected y ?
justforthisnow · 19/03/2024 11:03
If complaints can be filed on behalf of someone, would your DH and his colleagues consider making one to HR, non anonymously? The whatsapp group sounds vaguely bystander effect, and imagine if those messages end up being used in court as evidence in a murder trial, the perception would be if everyone knew, why didn't anyone report it?
Cronchy · 19/03/2024 11:14
Can’t your husband speak to the university, and say he has very real concerns about the behaviour of y. It is stalking and threatening behaviour and if it escalates and anything happens to x, the university will be to blame for not protecting x. He is flagging as he is also disturbed by the messages he receives about x and he does not want to be a bystander. And currently university systems are being used for illegal stalking and harassment behaviour.
surely just that in writing would panic the university as it’s a paper trail of staff raising concerns?
sorry if he’s already done that but I’m surprised that no one has spoken to y more formally and told them to stop?
I’d say it’s bigger than school admin though, he needs to speak to someone else.
if you don’t work there and you don’t know any of the people I don’t think you can do much.
Cronchy · 19/03/2024 11:22
I think if you got through to someone that realised this is actually an issue, it would make your husband look bad because he’s telling you about it enough that you’ve gotten worried, but not reporting it like he should be. I assume there’s still some safeguarding policies at universities as with schools, albeit to a lesser extent, but for many people as it operates as a work place, surely there is a duty to report harassment and also to report illegal activity that is taking place with university systems and on university property?
obviously your dh just needs to be careful this scary behaviour doesn’t backfire on to him too though
allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 19/03/2024 13:55
@JollyOpalPoster seriously think that x needs to complain to police now! whichever country she is in, because she will be afraid to return to uk! HR needs to be investigated. perhaps the dean of the university needs to be informed of all these goings on!! should never matter who is friends with y in HR or in the school! they should all be investigated for negligence! Can you contact X?
Editedallthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 19/03/2024 14:03
@JollyOpalPoster she cannot really afford to hang about. she HAS to contact the police. that Y sounds like he is on the verge of doing something really serious and i would be concerned for her safety.
DuckyDaffodil · 19/03/2024 22:52
My best and oldest friend was murdered by a man who stalked her 14 years ago. Report it. Report it over and over again, to anyone and everyone who might listen. Keep on reporting it until that man is stopped.
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