PGC Confidential Guide

We have decided to take a 2-phased approach, which provides the opportunity to cater to what is needed.

Phase 1:  Listen and Direct

• Your information will be listed on the PGC website with contact information. 
• When an investigator contacts you with a need, please schedule a time to meet with him within 10 business days
• Listen to the full situation and take detailed notes (with permission regarding which details may be confidential and not documented). 
• In some cases, the individual may need clarification if the grievance is reasonable or unreasonable. If it turns out that their grievance is actually common practice or a misunderstanding of established protocols, then the Confidential Guide (you) would help to communicate that to the individual. 
• If their grievance is determined to need arbitration, then the Confidential Guide could provide advice on the next steps and transition them into Phase 2, if needed. 
• If the Confidential Guide and the individual’s opinions do not agree, the individual has the option of selecting another Confidential Guide, however, a mutually agreed upon account for the discussion, resulting advice and source of disagreement with the 1st guide will be retained as documentation. This is done to avoid the instance of an investigator “shopping” for Guides until they receive the response that they desire and to minimize burden on the Guides. 

 

Phase 2: Confer and Resolve

• As this phase is only applicable if the matter is not easily resolved by the Guide, it involves other parties.
• The Confidential Guide refers the individual, with explicit permission, to the Exec Committee. The Exec Comm. would work together with the Guide to review the information and nominate an individual who could provide further insight, strategies, and if appropriate, mediation for resolving the grievances. The Exec Committee and Guide may also provide the individual with assistance formulating a response, a complaint, or contacting other parties. 

 

Principles to ensure balanced perspectives:

• As with research-related complaints that might be presented at an institutional level, in some instances, it may be necessary for the Confidential Guide or Exec Committee to engage other named parties to obtain their perspective (with permission of and discussion with the Complainant). This will allow the Guide to obtain a balanced perspective on the issue.
• In instances of obvious research misconduct or data breach, the Guide should encourage the Complainant to contact their institutional authorities.