The situation of workplace harassment in the area of Human Management of the Ministry of Social Development (You measure), during the management of Martin Lemahas gained notoriety after complaints from an official who decided to carry out a transfer due to the adverse circumstances he faced.
“I asked for a transfer because in 2020 we experienced situations of harassment of several colleagues“said the official, referring to the environment hostile that predominated in his workplace, a ministry that must ensure the well-being of the most vulnerable people.
The official’s stories illustrate a serious context, where abuse and derogatory comments between colleagues. “The last thing I heard was an insult from the psychologist to (a salary official), they called her a ‘fat pig’ for a problem with a file,” he stated. This exposes the presence of a tense climate in the office that affected their work environment.
Investigations and administrative sanctions
The complaint led to the initiation of an investigation in December 2020. administrative investigation to “verify the veracity of the reported facts.” The process concluded with a trial before the Court of Accounts of the Republic (TCA), which determined the validity of the sanction imposed by Mides on the official reported for harassment, according to the sentence to which El Observador had access and which it published this Thursday.
Among the sanctions was the suspension of five days with retention of half of the assets for the psychologist Veronica Bogliacino. This decision was made on April 1, 2022. Bogliacino subsequently appealed the decision, arguing that the administrative process was a “disguised summary” and that his rights were violated during the investigation.
Arguments and defense before the TCA
Bogliacino argued that the delay of 16 months of the investigation did not allow him to exercise his defense adequately. Mides dismissed these claims, justifying that it was given the opportunity to present its case. The investigation produced evidence confirming the inappropriate behavior and discriminatory of the official.
Bogliacino’s conduct was described as “typical of violence and insulting moral harassment”, highlighting that the expressions used were degrading and unacceptable. This pronouncement of the TCA was based on the need for the State to guarantee a work environment free of violence and harassmentin line with the responsibilities of the employer.
Offensive comments and work dynamics
The investigation also indicated the existence of a “bad relationship” and “interpersonal conflicts” among staff. Although it was not confirmed workplace harassmenta group of officials were identified who questioned the critical environment of their division. The investigators recommended sanctioning Bogliacino and Laurentano for their tolerance in view of inappropriate behaviors.
The testimonies collected during the investigation revealed that these behaviors were not isolated. Comments were recorded such as “take out the bicharracos” and derogatory references towards his colleagues, reinforcing the perception of a hostile environment.
