8.1 Problem Solving
Middlebury College strives to maintain effective employer-employee and employee-employee relations within the context of the at-will employment relationship. The College seeks to promote open communication between its employees with appropriate involvement of Human Resources, if necessary, to facilitate a resolution of employee concerns. Employees are encouraged to bring concerns directly to the attention of their immediate supervisor or, if uncomfortable in doing so, to their second level manager, Human Resources, Middlebury College Staff Council (MCSC), or an ombudsperson. If the concern remains unresolved, formal College resources such as an ombudsperson, the Human Resources Office, or the MCSC should be engaged. A list of ombudspersons can be found under People Who Can Help on the Human Resources Web site.
As an educational institution, Middlebury College is committed to maintaining a campus environment where discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, creed, color, place of birth, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, marital status, service in the armed forces of the United States, positive HIV-related blood test results, genetic information or against individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability and/or any other status or characteristic as defined and to the extent protected by applicable law is unacceptable. Middlebury complies with state and federal laws that address discrimination in the workplace.