Creating a socially safe working environment and addressing inappropriate behavior in the workplace remains a persistent challenge—even within academia. Time and again, new examples of incidents or long-standing misconduct surface in the media. This underscores the fact that it is a deeply rooted issue affecting staff across all disciplines and universities.
Nevertheless, many people hope—or assume—that this problem has already been resolved. Given the increasing attention to the matter, it’s almost hard to believe that individuals are still leaving academia because they feel unwelcome among their colleagues. This theme is central to the story of Rachel Los, who recently earned her PhD and concluded her dissertation with a striking "anti-acknowledgment" section. In it, she addressed inappropriate behavior that made her feel she did not belong in academia. What stood out most was how her experiences were repeatedly downplayed—particularly by male colleagues who couldn’t imagine such things had happened to her. She published the full text of her anti-acknowledgment in an opinion piece, once again sparking discussion about social safety in the academic world.
Athena’s Angels have been actively engaged with this issue for some time. Drawing on scientific research into inappropriate behavior and the structural conditions that allow it to persist—such as the way academic work is organized and the culture it fosters—they advocate for change.
They emphasize that many insights from the KNAW Committee's advisory report From paper to practice on social safety in Dutch academia are still highly relevant. The report offers concrete actions that anyone can take to help improve social safety in the workplace, along with clear guidance on how to respond to signals and complaints. In addition, scientific research continues to yield practical recommendations on what to do—and what to avoid—in response to recent events. A series of expert pages published in Het Financieele Dagblad on this topic has now been compiled. Athena’s Angels are eager to highlight this information for both leaders and staff members who are committed to fostering a socially safe working environment.
