Abuse of Power
Abuse of power refers to the exploitation of a hierarchical or structural position of power in order to gain personal advantages or to disadvantage others. It can manifest itself in abusive behaviour, inappropriate influence, intimidation, devaluation or even in the restriction of development opportunities. In the university context, abuse of power occurs particularly where relationships of dependency exist – for example, between teachers and students, supervisors and employees, or supervisors and doctoral candidates.
It is not easy to identify abuse of power. It depends not only on the nature of the incidents, but also on their frequency or systematic nature. Not every behaviour on the part of managers automatically constitutes a form of abuse of power. Not every expiring contract without renewal can be classified as abuse of power.
Possible forms of abuse of power can include, for example:
- Theft of ideas
- Deliberate delaying of expert opinions
- Threats not to renew employment contracts
- Constant demands to work overtime
Abusive power structures can lead to stressful situations. Concerns about escalation and fear of professional or academic consequences often prevent people from seeking help in good time.
The University of Cologne rejects any form of abuse of power and aims to critically examine existing structures that facilitate abuse of power and to provide transparent procedures for prevention and intervention. The Central Confidential Counselling Service plays a special role in this regard.
FAQ
What centres are available for this topic?
At the UoC:
- For all status groups: Central Office for Protection against Disrkimination and Abuse of Power as well as central and decentralised ombudspersons and trusted lecturers.
- For students: Suggestion and complaints office.
- For employees: Employee and management counselling.
Extern:
- For all status groups: Legal advice for abuse of power in Universities NRW
What can I do if I am affected by abuse of power?
- Document the incidents. The documentation serves as a record for future reference and as evidence. It can form the basis for counselling sessions or discussions with superiors. In addition, recording the incidents can help you process what you have experienced. Here you will find a template for documentation.
- Describe the situation to people you trust from your own perspective. An assessment by fellow students, colleagues or external persons can help you to put what you have experienced into perspective.
- Find allies. There is also the possibility of networking with other affected persons, e.g. Project Dein Raum!
- Seek support in good time and get advice.
What can I do if I witness abuse of power?
- Offer the affected person an open and confidential conversation. Give the person your support.
- Make them aware of counselling centres and support services. You can also accompany the person there.
- If necessary, seek support and advice for yourself.
What happens during a consultation at the Central Office for Protection against Disrkimination and Abuse of Power?
- Further information on counselling can be found here: Counselling at the Central Office for Protection against Disrkimination and Abuse of Power.
What options are available to people affected by abuse of power?
- Informal procedure
With the support of one of the above-mentioned counselling centres, you can first develop individually tailored coping and solution strategies. There are various options for action, e.g. awareness-raising measures, conflict discussions, further training or mediation. All steps of the procedure will be transparently agreed with you.
- Formal procedure/written complaint:
If you wish to make a formal complaint about bullying, you can contact the Central Confidential Counselling Service. We will advise and support you throughout this process.
The following diagrams show how the counselling and complaint channels are structured at the UzK.