The Harvard Medical School Ombuds Office registered a 3 percent increase in calls during the past year, responding to 468 issues raised by 432 members of the HMS community. Calls from HMS-affiliated hospitals increased a disproportionate 23 percent, signaling an emerging demand for services within these settings, said Ombudsperson Linda Wilcox. Wilcox presented the office's annual report at the Oct. 12 meeting of the faculty council. Approximately 6 percent of all women at HMS contacted the office, compared with less than 1 percent of men, Wilcox said.
Women speak with a different voice.
The majority of complaints were job related, including concerns about advancement, work environment, salary, termination and office communication. Sexual harassment, discrimination and concerns about safety, housing, stress and smoking policies were also common. One percent of calls were personal and involved problems outside the workplace. The office, which is independent of any academic or administrative department, was established in 1991 to provide a confidential, informal forum for HMS employees to voice job-related concerns and explore options for resolution. In some cases Wilcox acts as a mediator.