Being secretly filmed in the locker room is probably every woman’s nightmare. For a young sports coach, this became reality. She found video footage of herself in her employer’s locker room, naked except for her underwear. Now, the AK OÖ helped the woman with an amicable settlement for more than 7,000 euros in damages and severance pay.
45 years ago, the Equal Treatment Act (GlBG) was first adopted as the “Equal Pay Act”. In order to prohibit gender-based pay differences in the private sector, it was successively amended and extended to the entire world of work. Gender-related and sexual harassment had already been included in the law in the 1990s. However, it is still common practice in many companies, as a particularly blatant case of sexual harassment shows, according to the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labour.
More than 7,000 euros in damages
The young sports trainer makes videos of herself in the changing room at her employer, naked except for her underwear. The crime could clearly be proven by the owner of the sports studio. The trainer then wanted to terminate her employment prematurely and, shocked, turned to the AK Oberösterreich. As a result, the woman was able to receive more than 7,000 euros in damages and severance pay through an amicable settlement.
AK Upper Austria calls for better equal treatment legislation
The balance sheet figures also clearly show that women in particular are exposed to discrimination: last year, three out of four cases of equal treatment and discrimination affected women. Almost exclusively women were confronted with sexual harassment (94 percent). AK President Andreas Stangl therefore calls for further improvements in the Equal Treatment Act.
Only compensation of 1000 euros is provided
The statutory compensation of 1000 euros is far too low. Such a level hardly acts as a deterrent and should therefore be increased. If you lose your job for discriminatory reasons, a statutory minimum compensation of six months’ wages is required, as in the Disabled Persons’ Employment Act (BEnstG).
In addition, the AK Upper Austria has long been calling for the Equal Treatment Ombudsman (GAW) to be strengthened in the areas of personnel and finance and to be represented in all state capitals in order to speed up procedures.
Concrete AK measures against discrimination
In addition to the adjustments and improvements to the GlBG, additional measures are always needed to prevent discrimination in the workplace. “We as the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labour have been making a valuable contribution here for decades. Currently with two new instruments that make equal treatment within the company an issue and tackle important weaknesses. On the one hand with the equal treatment control and on the other hand with a new guide against gender-related harassment,” says AK President Andreas Stangl.
Equal treatment check
With the equal treatment check you can quickly check whether you are protected against discrimination within the company and whether the employer is fulfilling its duty of care. This can be found at https://gleichverfahrenscheck.arbeiterkammer.at/.
New guide
The new guide “No room for sexism – A Guide to Gender-Based Harassment” empowers women in particular and shows that Article 7 of the Equal Treatment Act largely prohibits normalised and everyday devaluations based on gender.
Advice is available here
Those affected, but also colleagues who observe discrimination within the company, can contact the Equal Treatment Advisory Service of the AK Upper Austria by e-mail at equaltreatment@akooe.at or by telephone at 050 / 6906-1910.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
