Finding help

This service is an independent and free resource available to the entire university community (students, intermediary staff, administrative and technical staff, professorial staff), in order to promote a favourable work and study climate. The persons of trust are mandated by UNIL but are entirely external, thus guaranteeing absolute confidentiality of your exchanges.

Any member of the community (students, intermediary staff, administrative and technical staff, professorial staff) who wishes to receive support, help, advice or a listening ear concerning a relational, operational or collaborative difficulty, can contact a person of trust.

These professionals offer support, help, advice or a listening ear for any relational, operational or collaborative difficulty, or for a situation of harassment, sexism, violence or discrimination. This can take different forms:

• Individual consultation: this is the first step to take if you need help. The consultation will take place in complete confidentiality and will offer you a listening space. No information will be passed on to anyone without your consent. The person of trust will review with you the support options available and possible actions.
• Mediation: the mediator is an impartial, independent third party with no power of decision, who, by organising confidential consultations, helps to re-establish communication or resolve the conflict in the interests of all the parties involved. Any employee who is involved in a conflict or who is experiencing communication issues may request mediation. A line manager who identifies relational difficulties in his/her service or department may also propose to request mediation. In some cases, another person than the person of trust may be commissioned for the mediation.
• Information sessions on conflict and harassment: the persons of trust are available upon request to organize information or awareness sessions for UNIL services or departments to meet their specific needs.
• Scope of action: the persons of trust are available to persons who wish to report a situation. They will present to them the various actions that can be taken, but they do not carry out investigations. The Rectorate may commission external experts to conduct administrative investigations, but only when reports are brought to its attention.