In accordance with International Ombuds Association, the Employee Ombuds serves as a neutral independent, informal, and confidential resource to help faculty and staff navigate and address workplace issues. Faculty and Staff initiate the support of the Employee Ombuds and options generated are used at their discretion. The Employee Ombuds Office differs from Human Resources and other conflict resolution services because it is independent of any formal university process. If your concern requires a formal process, you will be referred to other appropriate resources or office(s). The Employee Ombuds can report anonymous trend data and bring systemic concerns to the University for resolution.

Due to the neutral, informal, independent, and confidential nature of the Ombuds role, the Ombuds does not

• Advocate for individuals/take sides
• Create or maintain records for the organization
• Provide legal advice
• Participate in formal investigation or play any role in a formal issue resolution
• Serve in any other organizational role that would compromise the neutrality of the role
• Receive notice for the organization
• Share personally identifiable information without permission
• Make binding decisions or mandate policies
• Conduct formal investigations or write formal investigative reports
• Keep confidential any imminent risk of serious harm or danger as required by law

Visit the International Ombudsman Association for more information.

​​​​​​​Support is available to you if you feel any of the following

• I do not know how to proceed
• I am trying to avoid escalation conflict
• I feel unfairly or insensitively treated
• I believe that my due process rights have been violated
• I feel subjected to intimidating, bullying, or toxic behavior
• I feel, I am not being listened to
• I feel powerless
• I need coaching on dispute resolution skills
• I believe the University should improve its policies, procedures, & patterns of treatment
• I am having an issues with a colleague

The Employee Ombuds is located in Lake Michigan Hall, Suite 133.  Appointments are available virtually.  Call (616) 331-8009 or use this link to book online at Calendly - GVSU Employee Ombuds Officer.

Appointments are also available at Cook-DeVos Center For Health Sciences, Room 560. 301 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

The Employee Ombuds Office will make every attempt to meet you at a time and location that is secure and accessible for you. 

Parking for Lake Michigan Hall is located in Lot M. Upon entering the doors near the parking lot, turn right. The office is located on the left-hand side. 

Feel free to check out our curated resources. Our library is located in our suite at 133 Lake Michigan Hall on Allendale Campus. Simply Bring the Book to Our Front Desk.

• After the rain : gentle reminders for healing, courage, and self-love, by Alexandra Elle
• Back off! : your kick-ass guide to ending bullying at work : 105 practical tools you need to understand, report, and effectively end workplace bullying, by Catherine Mattice
• Bring work to life by bringing life to work : a guide for leaders and organizations, by Tracy Brower
• Burnout : the secret to unlocking the stress cycle, by Emily Nagoski & Ameila Nagoski 
• Climber cards: a versatile teambuilding and creativity tool
• Dare to lead : brave work, tough conversations, whole hearts, by Brené Brown 
• Emotional agility : get unstuck, embrace change, and thrive in work and life, by Susan David
• Emotional intelligence 2.0, by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves
• Fierce self-compassion : how women can harness kindness to speak up, claim their power, and thrive, by Kristen Neff
• Holstee reflection cards
• It's normal to shake as you soar : the essential guide to living at the intersection of joy and purpose, by Shannon Cohen
• Lead like a woman, by Deborah Smith Pegues
• Space deck
• The memo : what women of color need to know to secure a seat at the table, by Minda Harts.
• Tough skin, soft heart : a leadership book about growing stronger, better and wiser, by Shannon M. Cohen
• Trauma stewardship : an everyday guide to caring for self while caring for others, by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

The GVSU Employee Ombuds Office would like to recognize the People of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples on whose land we are gathered. The Three Fires People are indigenous to this land which means that this is their ancestral territory. Every university is built on stolen, native land. We are guests on their land and one way to practice right relations is to develop genuine ways to acknowledge the histories and traditions of the people who originated here first, who are still here, and who tend to the land always. As we make this land acknowledgment, we know it is but an important first step, and that there are many more that we need to take when we decide to engage in the important work of social justice.