Get help managing conflict at work (no forms required)!
Everybody faces tricky situations at work. Everybody occasionally needs a sounding
board to help navigate conflict. If you would like help navigating a challenging work
dynamic or relationship, reach out to the UNCSA Interim Ombuds, Liz Whiting (saombuds@gmail.com), to schedule an online or in-person conversation.
Here's how a typical ombuds conversation goes:
- We meet for one hour. Meetings that go longer can be overwhelming and exhausting. It's good to have a container.
- We'll spend a few minutes getting to know each other and clarifying how the Ombuds Office works.
- We'll talk (mostly you'll talk, and I'll mostly listen) about the challenge that you're working through. I'll be listening for the values that are most important to you.
- We'll explore possible options and next steps.
An ombuds conversation is...
- confidential, both in terms of the content of the conversation and who visits.
- independent. An ombuds does not hold decision-making authority.
- impartial. An ombuds supports any faculty, staff, and/or graduate student visitor, not taking sides.
- informal. Literally, no forms. It's not a grievance process (although some people choose to pursue a grievance process after they've met with an ombuds, and that's perfectly fine). It's a relatively casual space where a person can sort through how they feel and what they want to do.
Contact: Liz Whiting
March 17, 2026