Working method and consulting process

Our way of working

• As a matter of principle, we do not make any interventions without your consent.

• We take time for your concerns and questions.

• Our counseling services are primarily provided by lawyers, life and social counselors, mediators, coaches and competent colleagues with relevant training.

• It goes without saying that we treat your concerns confidentially. The members of the AKGL are subject to official secrecy. The employees of the AKGL office are also obliged to maintain confidentiality. In addition, we are personally committed to treating your request discreetly, as we are aware that this involves sensitive and highly personal information.

• In certain cases, however, we may be subject to a reporting obligation. This may be the case in particular if there is still a concrete risk of a serious criminal offense being committed. In this case, you may need to consider whether it is in your interest to report the matter anyway or whether you wish to contact us anonymously (at least for the time being) before seeking advice.

• If necessary, we will be happy to provide you with contact details for other institutions within and outside the university.

How does a consultation with us work?

Things to know about the counseling process:

1. Contact (by telephone/written/face-to-face) by members of the university if they fear, have experienced or have witnessed discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion or ideology, age or sexual orientation or if they fear, have experienced or have witnessed a disadvantage due to a possible disregard of the prohibition on the advancement of women. Initial interview - assessment of the facts and legal information, clarification of the AKGL's responsibility (if this is not the case, information about other bodies such as the works council, arbitration committee, mediation advisory board, occupational physician, supervisor, dean, rectorate, counseling centers within and outside the university).

2. Identification of individual needs and goals as well as possible perspectives.

3. Joint determination of the further course of action based on the needs and goals of the person(s) and the legal assessment of the AKGL:

   • No intervention by AKGL desired ⇒ Documentation of the discrimination or suspicion of discrimination while maintaining confidentiality, if possible development of own options for action with the person concerned, if necessary contact for evaluation after about six months (how has the situation developed, what was useful, what was a hindrance, what was successful, what was retained, what was discarded, is further support needed; purpose: consolidation of what has been achieved, clarification of further need for advice and/or intervention by AKGL), conclusion of the counseling process.

   • Intervention by AKGL desired ⇒ Joint determination of which form of intervention is selected e.g. information meeting with second party, information meeting with superior of second party, mediation meeting with both parties, application for an expert opinion to the Federal Equal Treatment Commission (by AKGL or person concerned themselves), complaint to the Arbitration Commission, disciplinary complaint. Afterwards, documentation while maintaining confidentiality, if necessary, contact for evaluation after about six months (how has the situation developed, what was useful, what was a hindrance, what was successful, what was retained, what was discarded, is further support required; purpose: consolidation of what has been achieved, clarification of further need for advice and/or intervention by the AKGL), conclusion of the counseling process.