Queen Mary Bystander

When putting Our Values into action, we should commit to:

Providing appropriate, healthy challenge and support to others
Sharing ideas as well as offering constructive challenge when appropriate
Working with others to resolve issues respectfully

The Queen Mary Bystander is a colleague who is equipped and confident to challenge unacceptable behaviour, encouraging inclusivity and collegiality in everything we do. Behaviours like bullying, intimidation, and sexual harassment contribute to a toxic working culture; intervening helps us to build a more positive workplace.

What are the 5Ds?

Find out more here: The Queen Mary Bystander [PDF 324KB]

The 5Ds provide a toolkit of practical ways for you to challenge unacceptable behaviour. They can be used in combination according to what feels safe and appropriate. They are:

Direct Action: Intervening in the moment, identifying what’s happening and why it’s not OK

Distract: Disrupting the behaviour by causing a distraction or removing the target

Delegate: Telling someone else about what you witnessed or experienced

Delay: Supporting the target and taking action later

Document: Making a record of what happened, in preparation for taking another action

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How do I become a Queen Mary Bystander?

You may already be speaking out when you witness behaviours that aren't acceptable. However, there may be times when you don't know the right thing to say, or when it's appropriate to take action. Queen Mary has made training available to help support you.

The Queen Mary Bystander e-learning will introduce you to the principles of bystander intervention. You'll then be able to explore five different scenarios, each based on the real-life experience of University colleagues, and find out what might happen when you use the tools available.

From there, you can attend a Queen Mary Bystander workshop to explore some more complex scenarios, in discussion with colleagues from across the University. These workshops are held both in-person and remotely via Microsoft Teams; reserve your place via CPD Training.