Webinar Recording Now Available: Recent Updates Regarding Supporting a Safe and Respectful Workplace at Institutions Receiving NIH Funding

NIH recently discussed our long-standing policies, procedures, and expectations for recipient organizations to support a safe and respectful workplace. We also highlighted NIH’s new statutory authorities to strengthen accountability in hostile work environment investigations, and help prevent unresolved concerns from following a researcher to a new institution.

The full webinar recording is available on the NIH VideoCast and the transcript is also available.

“NIH does not tolerate harassment or discrimination anywhere NIH-funded research activities are conducted…NIH is committed to ensuring that…funded institutions are well positioned to take action if a hostile work environment is present…” —Michelle Bulls, Director, Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, NIH Office of Extramural Research

“Oftentimes, institutions will put in safeguards. This might include additional oversight or additional mentoring for the people in the lab. And monitoring is something that we do request, particularly…after a finding has been made. We want to ensure there is ongoing safety, that the environment continues to be safe.” —Patricia Valdez, Ph.D., Chief NIH Extramural Research Integrity Officer, NIH Office of Extramural Research 

Key takeaways from the discussion:

• Recipients must have policies, procedures, and internal controls to support safe research environments, communicate expectations, and address concerns.
• Requests involving changes in a program director/principal investigator (PD/PI), other senior/key personnel, or recipient organization must disclose the context of an ongoing or recent misconduct investigation.
• The authorized organization representative must notify NIH through the dedicated web form within 30 days when the action involves a PD/PI or other senior/key personnel and concerns about harassment, bullying, retaliation, or hostile working conditions. See also this NIH Extramural Nexus article.
• NIH may refuse to transfer an active award when relevant allegations remain unresolved to our satisfaction. See this section of the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
• Recipients must complete investigations even when a researcher leaves.
• NIH may share investigation reports and outcomes with recipients as needed, to support informed decisions and appropriate safeguards when researchers move to another institution. The prime recipient of an award remains accountable to NIH, and relevant award requirements flow down to any identified subrecipients.